A sex offender from Newcastle who is on the run after absconding from prison was refused parole five times after assaulting a woman.
Paul Robson, 56, who was born in Newcastle, absconded from HMP North Sea Camp in Boston, Lincolnshire on Sunday, February 13.
Described as a "particular danger to women and young children", Robson is serving a life sentence for attempted rape and indecent assault.
Go here for the latest crime news and breaking North East police updates
However, he was deemed fit to serve his sentence in an open prison following a Parole Board recommendation in February 2021, Lincolnshire Live reports.
Robson has been refused release from prison five times but in his last parole hearing, it was recommended that he move to a Category D open prison.
Lincolnshire Police has warned the public not to approach Robson adding that he "can cause real harm to anyone he comes across".
The convicted sex offender was born in Newcastle and was jailed at Oxford Crown Court in 2000 after he entered a woman's home through a cat flap.
He then tied his victim up, put a pillowcase over her head, and assaulted her while holding a knife to her throat.
Robson was handed a life sentence with a minimum of nine years but has spent an additional 11 years in prison.
Labour and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said the Parole Board has "serious questions to answer" following the decision to allow him to serve his sentence in an open prison.
A spokesman for the Parole Board said: "The Parole Board refused the release of Paul Robson but recommended a move to an open conditions prison following an oral hearing in February 2021.
"This was a recommendation only and the Secretary of State for Justice considers the advice before making the final decision on whether a prisoner is suitable for open conditions.
"We will only make a recommendation for open conditions if a Parole Board panel is satisfied that the risk to the public has reduced sufficiently to be manageable in an open prison.
"A move to open conditions involves testing the prisoner’s readiness for any potential return into the community in future. Prisoners moved to open conditions can be returned to closed conditions if there is concern about their behaviour."
The decision to transfer Robson to open conditions was taken before Mr Raab’s appointment as Justice Secretary, which came in September last year.
HMP North Sea Camp is a category D prison that holds a large proportion of sex offenders and those serving indeterminate sentences.
Lincolnshire Police released new images of Robson along with some further details in a bid to aid his capture.
Northumbria Police said: "Our colleagues at Lincolnshire Police have shared further details and a new image of Paul Robson who absconded from North Sea Camp in Boston.
"He is described as being 5ft 8ins tall, speaks with a North East accent, and has an inch-long scar on the right side of his eyebrow.
"He also has a tattoo on his left hand of a cross, believed to be self-made, with a blue crucifix between the thumb and forefinger.
"He’s believed to habitually wear a baseball cap as well as a dark donkey jacket with a large collar and blue on the shoulders in his possession.
"If you have seen him or have any information that can assist with enquiries, please report it to police - do not approach him or try to apprehend him yourself - call 999 immediately."
East Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Kate Anderson, of Lincolnshire Police, said on Wednesday: "It has now been three days since Paul Robson was last seen and we continue to appeal to members of the public for their help to find him.
"We are keeping an open mind as to his current whereabouts and we’re pursuing extensive lines of enquiry based on the information that the public have shared with us so far.
"We’re grateful to those who have already contacted us, and we would urge people to continue doing so. Any information, no matter how small, is useful in allowing us to build a bigger picture and it leads us closer to taking a dangerous man off our streets.
"We understand there may be concerns around personal safety, but we have allocated a number of resources to this investigation to aid in his swift arrest.
"Rest assured we are taking this seriously and advise that if you do see him, please contact us immediately and try not to approach him or apprehend him yourself."
