Danger Patient on Run From Scandal Hospital ; He Has a History of Violence but Was Able to Flee Escort

A DANGEROUS mental patient with a string of violent convictions is on the run after escaping from a London psychiatric hospital notorious for breakouts.

Andrew Nunoo, 30, fled the secure unit at Springfield Hospital, Tooting, on Sunday as he was being escorted around the hospital gardens by a member of staff.

Police say he is “a threat” to public safety and warned people not to approach him but to dial 999 if they see him.

A week earlier, a patient convicted of attempted murder went on the run from Springfield for 48 hours. Altin Bushi, 24, was tracked down in Northumberland, trying to board a ferry to the Continent with a knife. A year ago, paranoid schizophrenic John Barrett walked out of the hospital and killed former banker Denis Finnegan, 50, in Richmond Park.

Mr Nunoo was last seen at Springfield at 6.20pm on Sunday. He is black, 5ft 11in tall, and of muscular build with a shaved head. Police said he had friends in south-west London and Mitcham.

In April, another patient escaped from the hospital while walking with staff in the grounds and was on the loose for 11 days. In May, Springfield was fined Pounds 28,000 for safety failures over the death of male nurse, Mamade Chattun, 34, who was attacked after being left alone with schizophrenic Jason Cann, 22, in 2003.

Hospital chief executive Nigel Fisher said of the latest escape: “A patient absconded while on escorted ground leave as part of his rehabilitation programme. We are investigating and co-operating fully with the police.”

Springfield underwent an internal review after Mr Finnegan’s death and introduced new security measures.

But a senior police source today said: “The review has failed. You cannot gain public confidence when you have people walking out of this hospital committing murders and carrying knives.”