An inquiry will be held into how a convicted killer dubbed the Black Dog Strangler escaped from a secure hospital in Newcastle, health trust bosses said.
Phillip Westwater left his clothes in a pile at St Nicholas Hospital, after asking to use the toilet during an escorted visit, then disappeared.
Westwater was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act after paralysing a man during a pub fight in 1989 and killing a fellow inmate at Liverpool's Ashworth Hospital.
He was reportedly found in a bar in the Newcastle's gay area after he was recognised from a photo circulated by the media.
Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust runs a medium secure unit within its St Nicholas site, and said Whiteman escaped during an escorted visit to a restaurant in another building.
He asked to use the toilet, from where he vanished, leaving a pile of clothes on the floor.
"Planned or escorted leave is an important part of any patient's treatment plan, especially when working towards their recovery.
Arrangements for escorted leave are rigorously risk assessed, made on an individual basis and regularly reviewed.
The decision to grant leave involves the views of the patient's multi-disciplinary clinical team and when appropriate input from the patient, their carers, family members, as well as external agencies."
We will be carrying out a thorough internal review of this incident as soon as our colleagues at Northumbria Police have concluded their investigation."
– Spokesman for Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Convicted killer Phillip Westwater has been found by police, after going missing from a secure hospital on Tyneside. Westwater, who's also known as Phillip Whiteman, was spotted by a member of the public on Tyneside late on Wednesday 2 January.
Police say he will be taken back to a secure unit at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth.
A convicted killer has escaped from a secure hospital in Newcastle.
Phillip Westwater, who is originally from Newcastle, was detained under the Mental Health Act 20 years ago. Northumbria Police say the 44-year-old should not be approached.
Kenny Toal has sent this report from St Nicholas' Hospital in Gosforth.
Northumbria Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was assaulted in Northumberland.
A 40-year-old man was taken to hospital suffering from head injuries in the early hours of Sunday morning (December 2nd) after he was found at the Cattle Market in Hexham.
A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and a further two men, both aged 23, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Jewellery worth £60,000 stolen from Newcastle house
Police are appealing for information after nearly £60,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from a house in Newcastle.
Thieves broke into the house on Barmoor Drive in Great Park between three and four o'clock on Monday November 19th.
They then stole a diamond engagement ring, two Breitling watches, two Rolex watches, a Schaffhausen watch, a ring with a diamond band, a platinum heart shaped necklace, and a platinum ring.
As well as jewellery, a Sanyo digital camera, a Sony video camera, a lap top computer and two Olympus digital cameras were also stolen from the house.
Police appeal over concerns for Sunderland woman's welfare
Police are continuing to appeal for the public's help following concerns raised over the welfare of a woman in Sunderland.
Witnesses reported seeing a man and woman arguing in a silver vehicle, believed to be an old-style Honda Civic, outside the Ivy House Pub in Sunderland on Sunday afternoon.
The woman got out of the car after the argument and walked off down the rear lane of Alice Street.
The man then drove after her and people nearby reported hearing a thud and a woman's scream. He was then seen putting the woman into the car.
The man is white, in his early 20s, 5'8" - 5'10" tall, with short blond spiky hair, and was wearing a dark top and jeans with large back pockets.
The woman is white in her early 20s, around 5'9" tall, with dark shoulder-length hair and was wearing a cream jacket or top and dark jeans or trousers.
"We've been carrying out detailed enquiries to find out what has taken place here and to determine if any crimes have been committed.
"At this time we are keeping an open mind, however we are obviously concerned for the welfare of this woman and ask that she contact us as a matter of urgency.
"I would also urge anyone with information about this incident to come forward if they have not already done so as any details, however seemingly trivial, might be important."
– Detective Inspector Paul Woods, Northumbria Police
A man is in a serious condition in hospital after being hit by a car in South Shields.
The 22 year old was hit on Westoe Road at just before 4am this morning. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle with a head injury and is in a serious but stable condition.
The driver of the silver estate car failed to stop. Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them.
