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'Significant' sightings of on-the-run criminal | 'Significant' sightings of on-the-run criminal |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A "dangerous and predatory" criminal has been seen more than 30 times since going missing from jail, police said. | |
Lee Cyrus, 47, from Preston, was serving life for robbery when he failed to return to a Lincolnshire open prison while on day release on 9 October. | |
Cyrus, also known as Ivan Leach, went missing from the North Sea Camp open prison near Boston. | |
A Crimestoppers' £3,000 reward has been offered for information leading his arrest and successful conviction. | |
CCTV footage taken in Preston on 17 October is believed to show Cyrus. | CCTV footage taken in Preston on 17 October is believed to show Cyrus. |
Lancashire Police think he was walking down Friargate at 18:50 BST minutes after a man matching his description made sexual advances to two girls at a bus stop on Lancaster Road in the city centre. | |
The girls boarded their bus and reported the matter. | The girls boarded their bus and reported the matter. |
Police said Cyrus was believed to have carried out a sexual attack in Tayside since he left prison. | |
Det Ch Insp Ian Dawson described him as an "extremely dangerous and predatory individual" who should not be approached by the public. | Det Ch Insp Ian Dawson described him as an "extremely dangerous and predatory individual" who should not be approached by the public. |
"We've had a significant number of sightings, in excess of 30, and we have a number of detectives following up each of those sightings," he said. | |
"He hails from Preston, his family and associates are in Preston and I believe from the information I have, he has spent a considerable amount of time in Preston since leaving prison on 9 October." | |
Cyrus was jailed in 2005 for robbing a 90-year-old woman in her home in Ribbleton, Preston. | |
Police added Cyrus could be sleeping rough and travelling the country, most likely on public transport. | |
Detectives believe his appearance may have changed over the past few weeks due to his current lifestyle and he may have grown a beard. |