POLICE believe a rapist from the Okehampton area, described as 'highly dangerous' when he was jailed 12 years ago, has returned to Devon.

A major search is taking place and the public have been warned not to approach Eddie Braime, who escaped from North Sea Camp open prison near Boston, Lincolnshire in the early hours of last Friday morning. He was still being sought as the Times went to press.

It is believed that Braime had been transferred to the open prison the day before he absconded.

The 39-year-old was given three life sentences for a brutal attack on a woman in 1998 in which he beat her with a baseball bat.

The victim was then dragged into a field at Aylesbeare, near Exeter, and raped twice.

Det Supt John Clements, head of public protection for Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'We've got no indication that he'd make his way to anywhere other than Devon. 

'Since Friday we've had no sighting and we're keen to enlist the support of the public — to use their eyes and ears — so we can catch this man and get him back to prison.

'He shouldn't be approached but I'd like to ask the public to look at his picture and if you believe you've seen this man, call 999 to let us know.'

Braime had 134 previous convictions for a variety of offences and was described as a 'highly dangerous man' by Judge Graham Cottle during sentencing.

Braime is described as white, approximately 5ft 10in tall, of average build and with balding ginger hair.

He has green eyes and speaks in a soft toned voice.

An unconfirmed report suggested he was last seen wearing military-type boots, black jeans, a sleeveless leather jacket and a black coat with an orange lining.