'Threat to women' patient escapes

Police say Manley could be anywhere using a rail pass

A man who police say poses a threat to women has absconded from a psychiatric hospital.

James Manley was detained for an indefinite period after a series of sexual assaults and robberies on women.

The 28-year-old walked out of the John Howard Centre, a psychiatric hospital in Hackney, north-east London, on Friday.

Police issued this picture of James Manley

Police now believe he could now be anywhere in the UK.

A police spokesman said Manley "was known to have an extensive knowledge of the rail network and an intense interest in trains".

He has no money with him but does have a disabled travel pass for free travel on the tube, buses and rail.

He is described as white, 6ft 3in, with a vertical scar on the left side of his face.

He has short black crewcut hair, wears thick-lensed glasses and was least seen wearing a green woollen round neck jumper, blue tracksuit jogging bottoms and white trainers.