A man with a violent history in the Ottawa area escaped from a Kingston prison early Thursday morning, according to police.

Kevin Douglas Rice is serving 10 years after being convicted of bank robbery, making threats, forcible confinement, possession of a weapon and other crimes.

He did a series of bank robberies in 2004, culminating in a $125,000 heist at a Brockville jewellery shop in September of that year. His accomplice in the last robbery was never caught, nor the goods ever recovered. 

Guards at the minimum-security Frontenac Institution noticed he was missing while doing a head count around 11:30 a.m.; he was last seen at 8:15 a.m.

Police say he is five feet, nine inches and weighs 217 pounds, with short grey hair and hazel eyes. He also has a wolf tattoo on his left arm and a flame tattoo on his right arm.

Rice, who has more than 20 convictions on his record, is the third prisoner to escape from the institution in recent months.

Andrew Wood, convicted of murder and robbery, disappeared in June and is still at large. Also, murderer Kevin McBain escaped in July but was found only five days later.