Dangerous on-the-run sex offender had been refused parole five times

An on-the-run sex offender who absconded after being moved to an open prison, had been refused parole five times.

Paul Robson, described as a “particular danger to women and young children”, is serving a life sentence for attempted rape and indecent assault and was reported missing from HMP North Sea Camp near Boston at about 7am on Sunday, Lincolnshire Police said.

Labour said Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has “serious questions to answer” following the government’s decision to deem Robson fit for the open prison following a Parole Board recommendation in February last year.

Police have urged people not to approach the 56-year-old Robson, who arrived at the open prison on January 21, as he “can cause real harm to anyone he comes across”.

During his fifth parole review, Robson was refused release but recommended for a move to the Category D open prison. The Newcastleborn sex offender was jailed at Oxford Crown Court in 2000 after he entered a woman’s home through a cat flap before tying her up, putting a pillow case over her head, and brutally assaulting her while holding a knife to her throat.

He was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of nine years but has spent an additional 11 years in prison.

Robson had only been released from prison three weeks before the attack and was on licence – with the sentencing judge describing him as a “menace to females”.

The prisoner, who walked out of HMP North Sea Camp, is described as a white male with a bald head, a long goatee beard and is of a slim build.

Shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said: “Dominic Raab has serious questions to answer about why such a dangerous criminal was deemed fit to be in an open prison where he could abscond.”

The decision to transfer Robson to open conditions was taken before Mr Raab’s appointment as justice secretary. The Ministry of Justice said absconding incidents last year fell to their secondlowest level since 1995.

Paul Robson.