A police manhunt has been launched after a convicted child rapist escaped from staff while on escorted community leave.
Cliff Lyons Dobbie, a restricted patient, absconded from Perth city centre in Scotland on Friday.
Dobbie was convicted of raping a 10-year-old girl in Glasgow while on bail for sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy in 1990.
He has been housed in secure units, including State Hospital Carstairs, ever since.
Dobbie is being treated as a missing person by Police Scotland and inquiries are ongoing to trace him.
Cliff Lyons Dobbie, a restricted patient, has absconded from #Perth city centre whilst on escorted community leave.
— Police Scotland Tayside (@PSOSTayside) August 7, 2026
The public should not approach him but should report any sighting to 101 or 999, quoting incident number 1696 of 6 August 2026.
More at: https://t.co/gyfEyZKXMl pic.twitter.com/VxEgTNCUU7
Members of the public are warned not to approach him.
Inspector Kris McCall said: “We want to trace Cliff, who also uses the name Clifford Lyons or Dobbie, as quickly as possible.
“I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has seen or spoken to him since Thursday August 6. He has links to Glasgow and the surrounding areas.
“The public should not approach him but should report any sighting to Police Scotland.”
Dobbie is white, about 5ft 3in, and of stocky and muscular build.
He is bald, has blue eyes, and has a noticeable squint which is more apparent when he is not wearing his glasses.
He was last seen wearing white trainers, light blue ripped jeans, a salmon-coloured golf shirt and a light blue jumper.
He also wore a black cap and thick black-rimmed glasses. Dobbie was carrying a black backpack and a black puffer jacket.
Police said he has distinctive tattoos on both arms, including an image of two blue tiger-like eyes on his right arm and a blue and red Rangers tattoo on his left arm. He speaks with a strong Glaswegian accent.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact police immediately on 101 or 999, or speak to any officer using incident number 1696 of August 6.
