Alert as Youth Prisoner Escapes

A teenager with severe psychiatric problems escaped after attacking his carer during an organised fishing trip. William Pritchard, 16, had been sent to St Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle, from a young offenders’ institution under a mental health order. On an outing in Felton, Northumberland on Monday, he threatened to sexually assault his carer, before attacking her and running off, police said. Northumbria Police said he might try to contact relatives in Worcestershire.

They have put out an appeal for anyone who has seen the teenager to get in touch. He is 5ft 10ins tall and of slim build, with a fair, freckled complexion, pierced ears and short black spiky hair with a shaved pattern on the sides. He was wearing a navy T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms, a khaki hooded top, black football sweater and white trainers.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said he was of a high risk to himself and possibly to others.