POLICE involved in the manhunt for a missing child sex offender in Hampshire have thanked the public for their help.

Officers working on the investigation to find Stephen Munden, who jumped over a wall at a psychiatric hospital last week, said the sharing of media stories online led to 54-year-old handing himself in.

More than 100 sightings of Munden were reported to police before he eventually handed himself in after five days on the run.

As previously reported, Munden climbed over the fence at Mildmay Oaks hospital in Winchfield, near Hook, on Tuesday, April 21, without permission.

The registered sex offender had been detained there under a hospital order from the courts, after being sentenced for sexual offences in 2014.

Munden handed himself over to police at a Thames Valley police station in Mitlon Keynes, at 12.45am yesterday, when he was detained and taken to a mental health facility.

Hospital bosses at Mildmay Oaks are continuing a probe into the escape.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Rowlandson said: “I am incredibly grateful to all the members of the public who provided assistance in the search for this man. The number of people who responded to our appeal for sightings was incredible and we had thousands of shares and retweets on Facebook and Twitter.

“I am glad that as a result, Mr Munden handed himself in to a police station and is now safely back in hospital.

“Offender management officers will continue to work closely with the staff and management at Mildmay Oaks hospital, to help prevent anything like this from happening again.”

Joy Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Partnerships in Care, added: “We are grateful to the police and the public. I am keen to give our reassurance that we will act on any perceived security risks. The process of investigation into the abscond is underway. The outcome of this will be detailed, will result in action points, and will be fully shared with the CQC, commissioners and NHS England.”

The Hampshire psychiatric hospital where Munden is a patient was ordered to make urgent improvements earlier this year.

It followed a Care Quality Car Commision (CQC) inspection in November which found the hospital in Winchfield run by Fairhome Care Group (WL) Limited had a “disturbing” number of violent incidents.

A total of 334 incidents of physical abuse or violence were recorded in seven months, including 272 incidents where staff were reported to have been assaulted, sometimes needing hospital treatment.

The watchdog previously found “serious failings” after an inspection in 2012 at the hospital, which can take up to 69 patients with mental health needs or learning disabilities.

But following the CQC criticism, a new company, Partnerships in Care (PiC) has taken over with new staff and changed its name from Vista Independent Hospital to Mildmay Oaks.