Give yourself up, British police tell killer

Police hunting a convicted murderer and rapist who disappeared after being released on bail appealed today for him to give himself up following a confirmed sighting in the Brighton area.

Richard Crawford, 41, is thought to have travelled to Brighton, in East Sussex, after failing to turn up for an appeal hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh six weeks ago.

Despite a police appeal for information, Crawford is still at large. However, police today said they had received one confirmed positive sighting yesterday in the Withdean area of the city.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “The public response has been truly remarkable. Over 100 calls have been received since the appeal. We have one positive sighting at an address in Withdean, Brighton, yesterday.

“Sussex Police are appealing for Mr Crawford to give himself in, either to contact local police or phone his solicitor.”

She added: “Two officers from Scotland were in Brighton yesterday. Police are dealing with the 100 calls.”

Crawford, from Paisley, near Glasgow, was jailed for life in February 2000 for the murder and rape of Mary Lynch, 87, and ordered to serve eight years for the attempted rape of 79-year-old Mary Dorans.

Both offences happened in the pensioners’ homes in the Ferguslie Park area of the town in 1987.

He was released on bail after appealing against his conviction and arrived at court for a hearing on July 12, but vanished before the case was called.

Police have warned people not to approach Crawford, who they say is a danger to the elderly, particularly women.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, the Scots Tory justice spokesman, also said his party would seek to amend the Criminal Justice Bill currently before the Scottish Parliament to prevent those convicted of serious offences from being bailed.

He said he had previously raised the matter with Scotland’s justice minister Jim Wallace, who claimed that “no legislative change is required”.

But Lord James said: “I am frankly appalled that people convicted of serious crimes such as rape and murder are being granted bail so lightly.

“The public quite rightly expects the state to protect it from potentially dangerous criminals.

“Richard Crawford’s release demonstrates that this is clearly not the case at present.”

Det Chief Insp Donny McQuade, leading the investigation, has said Crawford was a “dangerous” man and appealed for anyone with information about his whereabouts to get in touch.

He said they had “good intelligence” to suggest Crawford was living and working in Brighton and urged people to contact officers if they saw him.

Mr McQuade declined to give details of what kind of work Crawford, a former Salvation Army worker, might be doing in the south coast town.

He said: “Richard Crawford is considered a danger to the elderly, in particular females, and it is therefore imperative that he be traced and taken into custody without delay.”

Police in Sussex have also been involved in the search for Crawford, who has distinctive tattoos on both his forearms.

Mr McQuade said: “We are hoping that with the recent warm weather someone may have recognised him and will come forward with information.”

The Crown Office has issued a photograph of Crawford, who is described as 5ft 10in with brown hair and deep-set eyes.