Police hunt for inmate Lee Cyrus after he absconds from Lincolnshire prison
The public are being warned not to approach a fugitive who disappeared on day release from a prison in Lincolnshire.
Lee Cyrus, 47, also known as Ivan Leach, failed to return to North Sea Camp open prison in Boston on Tuesday, October 9.
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Lee Cyrus
He is currently serving a life sentence for robbery.
Cyrus has previously resided in Lancashire, having lived mostly in the Preston area but he has also stayed in Blackburn. Since he has been at large, it is believed he has spent some time in the Tayside area but that he may now be anywhere in the UK.
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He is white, around 5ft 11ins tall and stocky, with cropped hair and brown eyes.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Taylor said, “It is extremely important that we locate Cyrus as quickly as possible and any information members of the public can provide could be crucial to apprehending him.
“We would ask members of the public to be vigilant and not to approach him but report any sightings to the police”.
Lancashire Police say they are investigating reports that two schoolgirls were approached as they sat at a bus stop around 6.30pm on Lancaster Road in Preston city centre on Wednesday, October 17.
The girls were approached by a man matching Leach’s description who made sexual remarks towards them and encouraged them to participate in sexual activities with him. Fortunately the girls boarded their bus and reported the incident to the police.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Dawson from Lancashire Police said: “We want to speak with Ivan Leach/Lee Cyrus in connection with an offence of inciting children to engage in sexual activity.
“He is a dangerous individual who poses a serious threat to members of the public with previous convictions for burglary, sex offences against a young girl, assault and robberies in which he has targeted elderly people in their own homes.
“We believe he could be sleeping rough and travelling extensively throughout the country. However, he has a number of links to Preston and prior to his sentence lived and offended in the Preston area. We are in liaising with a number of other forces in a bid to track him down and apprehend him but we need the public’s help.”
At that time the offender was described as having stubble and wearing a black top, black shorts, carrying a rucksack.
Anyone with information can contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments
by nigelsparky
Friday, October 26 2012, 7:57AM
“Well all I'll say to that Gnome is this.
Why have the police described this individual as "dangerous" and should not be approached by the public. Also it appears as though he was up to his old tricks whilst on "day release". Whoever carried out the assessment of him has in my opinion, not done their job properly and should be held to account over this. Society has to be protected from individuals such as this guy. Quite clearly he has not changed his ways. The old saying springs to mind " leopard and spots". I agree with you about rehabilitation in most cases, however paedophiles and murderers ? No!
There may not be anything untoward going on at Boston prison, these individuals don't think rationally like me and you, hence they are in the situation they find themselves in.”
by Gnome_Chomsky
Thursday, October 25 2012, 9:33PM
“By the time prisoners get to an open prison, they are either considered low risk or getting very close to the end of their sentence.
At the end of their sentence, even high-risk prisoners are released. Open prisons and day-release allow the risk they pose to the public to be assessed, and allow authorities to plan for monitoring on the outside. This can inform MAPPA and MARAC, bodies set up to protect the public.
What is more concerning for me is this: What is going on at North Sea Camp that is pushing so many offenders to jeopardise their release dates and any chance of support on the outside?
Regardless of your opinions on crime and punishment, open prisons and day-release schemes are designed to enable smooth rehabilitation into the community for a prisoner at the end of their sentence. For an offender to risk being returned to a closed prison and serve their full term, something bad has to be happening.”
by nigelsparky
Thursday, October 25 2012, 9:00PM
“so the person or persons that decided he would be better off in an open prison and let out on day release, are they to be reprimanded or sacked for gross negligence? probably not!”
by casiofx85gt
Thursday, October 25 2012, 11:02AM
“Failed to return on October 9th and you report it over two weeks later! Glad to see you are on the ball.”
by nightowl804
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:37AM
“I actually thought this news story was an April Fools joke, then I realised its October.
Well if Lee Cyrus doesn't want a nice warm room with all the luxuries that tax payers can afford , I'm sure there's a lot of people out there who are down on their luck will be only too pleased to receive such accommodation (and it'll be a lot safer in there at this rate too)”
by Roadscource
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 3:56PM
“I know what you meant Vic, i just used your comment to be sarcastic about the prison. A life sentence served in an open prison pffff.”
by VictorToo
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 3:45PM
“I meant North Sea camp and the number of prisoners that are either getting day release and not coming back, or just deciding they've had enough and walking off.”
by Roadscource
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 3:42PM
“"not having a good time of it are they"
Yes thats exactly what they are having, the report states "He (Cyrus) is currently serving a life sentence for robbery"........however hes allowed out every day only having to return to North Sea Camp Bed and Breakfast (when he feels like it) for his free meals and free bed for the night.”
by VictorToo
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 1:33PM
“@bill2b
I agree, if he's serving a life sentence and poses such a danger to the public, why was he in an open prison, and why was he let out on day release ?
Also, ayt another person to abscond from North Sea camp, not having a good time of it are they, how many is that now ?”
by bill2b
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 1:16PM
“"He is a dangerous individual who poses a serious threat to members of the public with previous convictions for burglary, sex offences against a young girl, assault and robberies in which he has targeted elderly people in their own homes.
Yet he was in an open prison.”