The Daily Telegraph - Saturday
Manhunt for escaped mental health patient who is ‘risk to women’
A MANHUNT has been launched for a mental health patient who is a risk to women after he absconded from a care facility for the fourth time.
The Metropolitan Police warned the public not to approach Balasankar Narayanan, 44, who was last seen at 6.40pm on Sunday.
The force said he could be “violent and is considered a risk to women” as it appeal for the public’s help.
Narayanan ran away from his carers while visiting a north London park as part of escorted leave from the care facility in Ilford where he lives.
It is the fourth time he has absconded from the facility and the third time in just over a year.
On each of the three previous occasions the Met Police have had to issue warnings and public pleas on each of the other three occasions the 44-yearold was able to escape.
He has previously been found in both Grays and Manchester, the police said, although it’s not known how they caught him.
A spokesman for the Met asked for the public’s help but warned them not to approach Narayanan because of his violent tendencies and the possible threat posed to women.
“Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a man who absconded while on escorted leave from a care facility in Ilford,” he said.
“Balasankar Narayanan, 44 was last seen at 18:40hrs on Sunday, 4 August when he ran off from staff at a park. While our investigation to locate Balasankar continues, we are appealing to the public to help locate him,” he added.
“He can be violent and is considered a risk to women – if you see him please don’t approach him, but call police immediately.”
The police said Narayanan has links across London, including Newham, Greenford, Hammersmith, Highgate and Ilford, as well as the West Midlands.
The public are encouraged to call 999 immediately quoting CAD 6961/04Aug if they see him.
The Met issued a similar appeal for the man on September 22 last year, after he had absconded a day earlier.
It made a similar appeal on 21 June 2023, three days after another escape when he was able to abscond from carers on June 18. An appeal was also made by the Metropolitan Police on 10 October 2021 saying that he absconded three days earlier on October 7.
In previous appeals the police have said: “We suspect he may be using the rail network and urge any staff and travellers to report any sightings of him immediately. He could potentially be anywhere in the country.”
Narayanan is listed as living at a small care home in Ilford, east London, that was converted from a residential home run by private care provider Clandon Care and houses three patients.
No details on Narayanan’s condition or why he is considered violent and a risk to women have been released.
Clandon Care has been approached for comment.