Sex offender linked to Perthshire attacks may be travelling 'extensively'

A sex offender who has been linked to two attacks on women in Perthshire since he went on the run may have been spotted in the north of England.

Police in Preston, Lancashire, released CCTV footage appearing to show 47-year-old Lee Cyrus making sexual advances to two 15-year-old girls.

A man matching Cyrus's description was filmed walking through the town just before 7pm on October 17. The two girls later told police they had been approached by a man at a bus stop who asked them to participate in sexual activities with him.

Last week Tayside Police carried out a huge search of the area around Kinnoull Hill, near Perth, after Cyrus was linked to two attacks in the town on October 14 and 15.

A 68-year-old woman was attacked and robbed at her home in the Potterhill area, before a 23-year-old woman was woken and raped by an intruder at her home in the same part of town.

The following day a mattress was stolen from the rape victim's home. The mattress was later recovered from the River Tay by specialist dive teams.

Police say Cyrus, also known as Ivan Leach, may be sleeping rough and travelling "extensively".

He has been on the run since failing to return from day release to North Sea Camp open prison in Boston, Lincolnshire, on October 9.

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

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Dawson, of Lancashire Police, said Cyrus was an "extremely dangerous and predatory individual" and warned members of the public not to approach him.

He said: "He has previous convictions for burglary, sex offences against a young girl, assault and robberies in which he has targeted elderly people in their own homes.

"I would remind people that he is violent and should not be approached."

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