A SERIAL rapist who was jailed after dragging a teenage girl from a Leeds bus stop by her hair has walked out of an open prison –sparking a nationwide search and a warning from the police.
Sean Cawthray, 41, was given a life sentence at Leeds Crown Court in December 2002 after the incident in Kippax and had also been in prison twice previously for rape offences.
Cawthray's 14-year-old victim was only saved after a seven-year-old boy heard her muffled cries for help and called for his grandfather who then intervened, leaving Cawthray to run off.
He was found after a police search of the area, and later sentenced to an indeterminate sentence because of the risk he posed to young women after admitting attempted kidnap.
Until December 30, when he escaped, Cawthray had been an inmate at Leyhill Open Prison, north of Bristol, and officers from Avon and Somerset Police are now leading the search for him.
Last night they said he may have travelled back to Yorkshire and warned the public not to approach him but to dial 999.moncler jackets men
DI Jill Kells said: “We are committed to locating, returning to custody and charging anyone unlawfully at large.Castelli Cycling Officers work closely with HMP Leyhill and other police forces to track down absconders promptly and keep any potential risk to the public to a minimum.”
Cawthray is described as white, 5ft 9in to 5ft 11in tall, of medium build with short brown hair and blue eyes.
When he was last seen he was wearing a pair of silver coloured training shoes, cream coloured combat trousers and a light blue coloured top.
He may have been wearing either a worker's fluorescent jacket, grey jacket with orange patches or black jacket with a blue patch.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “A prisoner at Leyhill open prison absconded on 30 December and this is now a matter for the police.
“The number of absconds from open prisons is at a record low. Those who do abscond will be returned to a more secure prison and may face further charges.”
Policing teams have increased their patrols in the area after the terrifying incidents happened on October 13, November 17 and two on December 8.
The young attacker has been described as white, very thin, with short brown hair, aged between 12 and 20-years-old.
He was wearing jeans, a black jacket and a shoulder bag.Specialized Cycling
Police believe he is local to the area or has a reason to be there on a Saturday evening.
The chairman of a local residents' group has said the crimes will ‘rock the community'.
Steven Skinner,Garmin Cycling chairman of Little London's Tenants and Residents Association, said: “Residents will be so shocked to hear this has been going on.
“This has been happening in the heart of the community.RadioShack Cycling
“It is worrying. Some people are nervous about walking on their own and the confidence of anyone wishing to walk outside on a night will be shaken.”
Mr Skinner, who has lived in the area for almost 20 years, said he plans to campaign for better lighting to help residents feel safer and will raise the issue at a group meeting on January 15.
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