Police are urgently seeking the public's help to find an "extremely dangerous" convicted sex offender who has escaped from prison.

Paul Robson was jailed for life at Oxford Crown Court in August 2000 for attempted rape and indecent assault.

The court heard that, while out on licence from a five-year jail term, he crawled into a woman's Oxford city centre home through a cat flap.

Robson subjected the terrified 23-year-old to a series of attacks after putting a pillowcase over her head.

He had earlier fled his bail hostel in Abingdon Road after a punch-up with another offender in the home.

He was reported missing from HMP North Sea Camp near Boston, Lincolnshire, just before 7am today.

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People are being warned not to approach Robson, 56, but to report sightings to the police.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Cox, of Lincolnshire Police, said: “We are urgently seeking the help of the public to find Paul Robson, who absconded from HMP North Sea Camp this morning.

"This man is a convicted rapist, serving a life sentence and is extremely dangerous.

"I believe he poses a real risk of causing significant harm to members of the community.

“Whilst he absconded from a prison in Lincolnshire, by now he may by anywhere in the country and as such I encourage communities around the country to be mindful of this appeal.

"Since reports of his escape came to light, we have deployed additional resources to apprehend Robson.

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"If you have any information as to his current whereabouts, please get in contact. If you do find him, please do not approach him, or try to apprehend him yourself, but instead call us on 999. Thank you.”

North Sea Camp is a Category D men's prison for convicts coming towards the end of their custody.

The Government's website says the prison is "committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release."

It continues: "As an open prison, its main focus is on resettling the residents and getting them used to working in the community.

"There is a job club and Jobcentre Plus, self-employment classes and paid opportunities to work outside prison."

It was originally a borstal which opened in 1935.

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Borstal trainees were marched across the country from Stafford to build two protective sea walls and started to reclaim land from the North Sea.

The land became the prison farm, which up until 2004, was the biggest in the UK.

One of North Sea Camp's notable prisoners was Jeffrey Archer, from October 2001 to September 2002, who was serving four years behind bars for perjury in his 1987 libel victory following claims that he had sex with a prostitute.

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