Armed police, dog handlers and a helicopter have been sweeping the outskirts of Perth in one of the biggest manhunts in Tayside Police’s history.
The east of Scotland was on alert in the hunt for on-the-run violent criminal Lee Cyrus.
The search was launched after an off-duty police officer spotted a man matching Cyrus’s description disappearing into trees at the foot of Kinnoull Hill at around 7.20am on Wednesday.
The officer, who was driving at the time, attempted to return and follow the man but lost sight of him.
A police spokeswoman said the man spotted by the off-duty officer was of medium build with a round face. He was clean-shaven and wearing dark waterproof clothing, which were covered in mud, and a beanie hat. He was also carrying a rucksack.
Cyrus, who was convicted of having sex with a child, slashing a woman and robbing a 90-year-old widow, failed to return to an open prison in Lancashire following day release on October 9.
On Monday, Tayside Police said they had strong intelligence to suggest he had travelled to Scotland. They also refused to rule out a link to a serious sexual assault on a 23-year-old woman in the Bridgend area of the city, which took place on October 15.
Around 30 officers, including specialist search teams and a firearms squad, were called in to search the hillside. Around a dozen vehicles were on roads surrounding the hill, with at least one vehicle at the summit near Kinnoull Tower.
Chief Inspector Andy McCann said the search would continue until they were confident Cyrus was not in the area.
”We are going to systematically search the area until we are sure it doesn’t contain anyone,” he said. ”We are making house-to-house inquiries in the area bordering the search area to ensure that people are safe and provide reassurance. We are giving information on what to do if they see anyone acting suspiciously.”
Officers from Dundee and Blairgowrie, and off-duty officers, were also brought in to join the hunt.
A Eurocopter from Strathclyde Police spent around an hour combing the area.
Residents spoke of their terror as the search went on.
Norma Hughes (55), whose home is just a stone’s throw from the search base, said she had been unaware of the incident before arriving home.
”I came home half an hour ago and there’s all this police activity here so I’m concerned,” she said. ”I just thought it was an accident; that a car had gone off the road. There can be a lot here.
”I hope they catch him. I’ve been checking the house since I came home. I’m paranoid now.”
Another local resident, Stephanie Scott (27), said: ”I’m terrified. You don’t imagine something like this could happen here. I thought he’d be long gone. We’ll be keeping the doors and windows locked. I’ll not be leaving the house.”
A third resident, who did not want to be named, said she had been advised to lock her property and not to answer the door to anyone.
A police statement said: ”Tayside Police fully appreciates the concern that incidents of this type create within the community and we would encourage residents to speak with our officers on patrol.
”There are extra uniform resources in the area and people should speak with them about there concerns and, if they have any information that could be of assistance, please share it with them.”
The force urged people to keep to well-lit and busy areas, stay with friends and avoid walking home alone.
As darkness fell the search teams were withdrawn from Kinnoull Hill but the search was expected to resume at first light.
Police in Fife, Central and Grampian confirmed they are also on high alert, in case Lee Cyrus turns up in their area.
Anyone who sees Lee Cyrus or knows where he is should call the police on 0300 111 2222, or speak to any officer.