A "DANGEROUS" man who sparked a six-week police search has been returned to prison -- after being found at the scene of a suspected burglary.

Winswell Sutherland, 58, went missing on January 13 after breaking the terms of his parole by leaving his designated accommodation in Blackburn.

Early yesterday, police investigating a suspected burglary at an empty house in his home town of Ashington, Northumberland, found Sutherland at the scene. He is back in prison while police and the Probation Service conduct inquiries into his disappearance.

The Prison Service will then decide if Sutherland should serve the rest of his 15-year jail term for burglary and grievous bodily harm.

Sutherland was released from jail last August after serving two thirds of the sentence, the statutory amount of time before release. He was sentenced in 1994 for attacking Ethel Fraser, 78, at her home in Preston, leaving her blind in one eye.

He tied her up by her feet and hung her upside down above a door, before viciously attacking her. Police said neighbours saved her life by disturbing the attack. The pensioner has since died, though her death was not linked to the assault.

When Sutherland went missing, posters were placed around Blackburn and Darwen, warning people not to approach him. Police said he was "dangerous, volatile and unpredictable".

Acting Det Insp Ian Critchley, of Blackburn CID, said: "He was found in the early hours of Sunday at the scene of a suspected burglary at an empty house.

"He has not been charged with any offence. He has been returned to prison for the Probation Service and police to conduct further inquiries in relation to his whereabouts over the last six weeks. The Prison Service will decide if he should serve the rest of his sentence."