Police manhunt for escaped prisoner after women attacked in Perth

A police manhunt is under way in Perth after a possible sighting of an escaped prisoner linked to two violent attacks on women in their own homes in the city.

Tayside Police are investigating woodland around Kinnoul Hill, north of the Friarton Bridge after an off-duty police officer driving through the area at around 7.20am on Wednesday saw a suspicious man.

He was seen by the A90 Perth to Dundee road before running into the woods at Kinnoull Hill. The police officer turned around to try to locate the man but he was lost to view.

Detectives are hunting for Lee Cyrus, 47, also known as Ivan Leach who absconded from an open prison in Lincolnshire. He failed to return from day release from North Sea Camp open prison in Boston, Lincolnshire on October 9.

He is serving a life sentence for robbery and in the past he has committed a series of violent offences in his native Lancashire, including forcing his way into the home of a 90-year-old woman.

STV News understands police are examining possible links between his escape and two attacks on women in their own homes in Perth.

A 68-year-old woman was attacked and robbed at her home in the Potterhill area by an intruder on October 14. The following day a 23-year-old woman was woken from her sleep at her home in the Potterhill area by an intruder and raped.

Tayside Police said that a large police presence had been in the area since the sighting in a bid to trace the man. Search teams including dogs and the Strathclyde Police helicopter are involved in the hunt.

A spokesman for the force said the man is described as being of medium build, with a round face and clean shaven. At the time he wore muddy dark coloured waterproofs (trousers and top) and a beanie hat. He was carrying a rucksack style bag.

He added: "The public will be aware that Tayside Police, along with other forces, are making inquiries to trace the whereabouts of absconder Lee Cyrus. It is too early to confirm whether today’s sighting is linked to those inquiries.

"Around 30 police officers are involved in the search at and around Kinnoull Hill, including search trained officers, dog handlers and dogs and the Tayside Police Search and Rescue Team, as well as local community officers. Strathclyde Police’s helicopter and crew are also supporting the inquiry.

"In appealing to the public for any information they might have, we would urge people to be vigilant and not to approach this man, but to contact the police immediately. If possible they should take note of what he is wearing and direction of travel."

It has emerged that on Tuesday, October 16, a mattress was stolen from the scene of the sex attack before it was reported to police. Police confirmed that a mattress recovered from the River Tay on Monday by specialist dive teams was the one taken from the rape victim's home.

Officers said that a man was seen coming from Potterhill Gardens about 9.25am on Tuesday, cross the busy main road and towards the river in possession of the mattress. He was seen in the area again some ten minutes later without it.

The same man was then seen in Potterhill Gardens a short time later heading towards the main road. It was raining at the time and he had a green and blue panelled golfing umbrella.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should call Tayside Police on the incident room number on 0300 111 2255 or speak to any officer.

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