Police hunt sex offender

Police hunt sex offender

Manley has links to the Romford area, in Essex

A sex offender who poses a major threat to women has escaped from a secure unit in east London.

Police say James Manley, 29, absconded from the John Howard Centre, a psychiatric hospital in Crozier Terrace, Hackney, at 1730 GMT on Wednesday.

Manley was found guilty of robbing and attempting to strangle an 83-year-old woman and committed to the unit indefinitely in 1996.

He is under assessment so a decision can be made about the sentence he will receive for the attack.

Manley has a previous conviction for sexual assault and is considered dangerous.

'Do not approach'

He is described as white, 5ft 11ins, approximately 20 stone with a vertical scar on the left side of his face running from his lip to his jaw.

He has short black crew cut hair, is clean shaven, and wears glasses with thick lenses.

Manley was last seen wearing a green shirt, blue tracksuit top and white trainers.

Police say he has family in the Romford area, in Essex, and likes to travel on trains.

Detective Constable Robert Green, of Shoreditch CID, said: "If seen, this man should not be approached.

"As always in an emergency situation - or with an immediate sighting of Manley - we ask the public to call 999."