Police in England have issued an urgent warning to the public after two offenders absconded from the same healthcare facility on New Year's Eve.
Officers from Northamptonshire Police say that 43-year-old Nicholas Courtney left the hospital grounds St Andrew’s Healthcare facility in Billing Road, Northampton, around 6pm on Saturday, December 31, while on an escorted walk with members of staff. The police are not linking his disappearance with an earlier escape by another patient.
Courtney, a convicted sex offender, is serving a hospital order. He is described as white, 5ft 8in tall, of slim build with a bald head and tattoos on his neck. He was last seen wearing black trainers, blue jeans, a black jacket with a red stripe across the chest and a waterproof jacket on top.
Officers are urging the public not to approach the man under any circumstances, but instead to call 999 with any sightings as a matter of urgency, quoting incident number 359 of 31/12/22. 4/4.
The details of his escape were published on Twitter around 10.50pm on Saturday night.
The other escapee is Johnny Brady, a 19-year-old who is also serving a hospital order but for a serious assault in Derby. He escaped the hospital at about 3.30pm on Saturday December 31, although his escape is not thought to have been related to Courtney's.
Northants police said: "We are appealing for help to urgently locate teenager Johnny Brady who has absconded from St Andrew’s Healthcare facility in Northampton. Johnny left the hospital grounds in Billing Road, at about 3.30pm today (Saturday, December 31), and officers are urging the public not to approach him, but to call the Force Control Room on 999 with any sightings.
"The 19-year-old, who was given a hospital order for a serious assault in Derby, is white, about 5ft 9 and of a slim build. He was last seen wearing black Adidas tracksuit bottoms, a black hoodie, and black trainers."
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: “We would like to appeal directly to Johnny to reassure him that he is not in trouble but to please return to St Andrews or make yourself known to the police. We need to make sure you are safe and receive the care that you need.
"We would also like to appeal to members of the public to under no circumstance approach Johnny. If you see him or know where he is, it is important that you call us as a matter of urgency on 999.”
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