Police are searching for a sex offender who escaped from prison on Sunday morning – with the force warning he poses a “particular danger to women and young children”.

Lincolnshire Police have said Paul Robson can cause “real harm to anyone he comes across” as they urged people to dial 999 if they see him.

Robson, who is serving a life sentence for attempted rape and indecent assault, was reported missing from HMP North Sea Camp in Boston, Lincolnshire, at around 7am.

He was jailed for life in 2000 after he crawled into a woman’s home through her cat flap before subjecting her to a series of attacks.

He put a pillowcase over his victim’s head and held a knife to her throat during the attack in Oxford.

Robson, who already had a long history of violent sex attacks on women and young girls, was described by a judge at Oxford Crown Court as a “menace to females”.

The sex offender had been in and out of prison for attacks against adult women and girls as young as eight in the 16 years before he was handed the life term.

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The force has described the 56-year-old as being of slim build, with a bald head and a long goatee beard.

Police initially believed he was in the Boston area but have now said he could be “anywhere in the country”.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Cox said: “We are still working tirelessly to locate Paul Robson and are still working through numerous lines of enquiry. He could be anywhere in the country, and we are really keen to hear from the public with potential sightings so we can take this man off our streets.

“Robson is a dangerous sex offender and while he presents a particular danger to women and young children, I believe he can cause real harm to anyone he comes across.

“If you see Robson, please do not approach him, and do not try to apprehend him yourself. Call 999 immediately. We are really grateful for all the shares so far and rest assured we will continue our efforts to find and arrest him. Thank you.”