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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Lee Garrett & Graeme Murray

Convicted rapist still on the run a month after being let out of prison for day release

A prisoner still on the run a month after being let out of prison for day release.

Police say Sean Phipps disappeared after leaving HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire.

He left the prison on Wednesday and is known to have used a number of pseudonyms.

Phipps has also used several different surnames, including Cawthray, Goldthorpe and Perry.

LeicestershireLive reports he vanished while he was on day release in the Bristol area.

Previous appeals to trace the 51-year-old have turned up nothing and police confirmed the prisoner remains at large.

Officers have made a renewed appeal for help and asked the public urged to remain vigilant.

Previously, officers have issued CCTV footage which showed him approaching young women in the street.

He was jailed in 1993 after he raped a 20-year-old woman while he was studying art at Leicester's De Montfort University.

But before that, he had also served another rape charge, which related to a 15-year-old girl in Leeds.

Avon and Somerset Police, which is leading the search, say he has links to both the Leicester and Leeds areas.

In their latest update, officers said they believe he may still be in the Bristol area, but have called on the public across the country to remain vigilant.

Police urged anyone who sees Sean Phipps to call 999 and have warned people not to approach him (GLOUCESTERSHIRE LIVE/BPM MEDIA)

A spokesperson said: “He may still be in the greater Bristol area, including North Somerset or South Gloucestershire, and is known to walk or cycle long distances and camp out."

Phipps is described as white and about 6ft 2in tall.

Police say he has absconded before and was wearing a black coat over a blue top, blue jeans and Timberland footwear at the time he left HMP Leyhill.

Officers report a further description which said he also wore a black Casio watch, blue glasses, and carried a vape pen with him.

Anyone who sees Phipps is urged not to approach him and call 999 immediately, quoting reference number 5222130002.

Alternatively, sightings can be reported online.

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