There are serious questions to be answered by the secure unit at the centre of the police hunt for an escaped sex criminal.

At this paper reports today, 54-year-old Stephen Munden, who was detained under the Mental Health Act, was last spotted leaving Mildmay Oaks independent hospital in Winchfield, near Hook, but he failed to return.

It has emerged that Munden climbed over a fence and fled on foot from the hospital grounds.

Despite being sent to the hospital by a judge after being convicted of sexually touching a child and possessing indecent images of children, the hospital told the Daily Echo that it “did not deem this patient suitable for a secure setting”.

Behind this atrocious lapse in security lies the fact, again revealed by this paper, that the hospital was criticised by the Care Quality Commission earlier this year and ordered to take steps to improve conditions after a series of violent incidents.

While we do not know what steps have been taken so far to act on these recommendations, the escape of a dangerous patient must raise yet more concerns.

The public needs assurances that steps are being taken to ensure that this facility is safe and its patients well housed and secure.