Police hunt convicted sex offender on the run from open prison
Gary Butcher is the second man to have absconded from the open prison this year
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Police are hunting a convicted sex offender who has disappeared from an open prison.
Gary Butcher, 55, is serving a life sentence for aggravated burglary at HMP North Sea Camp in Boston, Lincolnshire.
He was reported missing just after 5.30am on Tuesday morning, and it is believed he may have travelled to the Leicestershire area.
Police have described him as a white male with a stocky build, with brown/grey hair and blue eyes.
He has a distinctive tattoo on his right arm and a “Phillip-Trina” tattoo on his left arm.
Police are appealing for any information on his whereabouts but have warned members of the public not to approach him.
Senior investigating officer, detective inspector Paul Coleman said: “We are appealing for help to locate Gary Butcher who was reported missing from North Sea Camp this morning.
“If you have any information to his current whereabouts, please contact us immediately. If you do see him, please do not approach him and instead, call us on 101 quoting incident 37 of 31st May and if it’s an emergency, dial 999.”
Earlier this year, another sex offender branded a “menace to females” disappeared from the same prison. Paul Robson, 56, was serving a life sentence when he walked out of HMP North Sea Camp, and fled on a bicycle.
He spent four days on the run before a member of the public spotted him in Skegness and called the authorities, who then detained him.
Robson was jailed for eight months after admitting a charge of absconding.