AN INVESTIGATION is underway after two convicted criminals – including a killer – absconded from a mental health hospital’s care.

Both men gave staff at Calderstones Hospital, in Whalley, the slip in two separate inc-idents on one day.

One of the abscondees was Terence Rudman, a man convicted of manslaughter. He was on ‘free time’ in the grounds when he left the site.

Staff quickly notified local police officers who found him at Whalley Railway Station and took him back to Calderstones.

On the same day David Yates, who has a personality disorder, was alone in Burnley for almost three hours after losing his carer at a football match at Turf Moor.

Nigel Evans, Ribble Valley MP, described the incidents as ‘worrying’ and called for a review of procedures at the facility. But a hospital chief said neither of the men, both housed in the low secure unit, were a ‘grave or immediate danger’ to the public. However, he confirmed investigations into both incidents were underway to establish whether lessons could be learned.

Russ Pearce, Calderstones chief executive, confirmed a client went with one member of staff to watch Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, September 19.

However, at the end of the match the pair became separated in the crowd and the client made his way into the town.

Police said David Yates was reported as having a personality disorder and being missing from home by Calderstones staff just before 3pm. According to officers, he was found after his solicitor spotted him and notified them at around 5.45pm.

He was returned to the hospital, which houses just short of 200 patients, at around 6pm, officers said. The hospital’s medium secure unit has room for 36 clients.

Mr Pearce said the low secure unit usually involves ward doors being locked, although there are exceptions. All of the facility’s clients have a learning disability, while some have also been convicted of crimes, which range in levels of seriousness.

It is understood both patients involved were convicted of crimes a number of years ago.

Mr Pearce said: “Investigations are now taking place to establish whether there are any lessons to be learnt. Neither of the clients were a grave, or immediate, danger to the public and had been assessed by a clinical team.”

Mr Evans said: “The general public need to be assured that measures will be put in place and that it is a lesson learnt.

"People also need to be reassured that the public were in no danger at any stage.

"It’s fortuitous that the client’s solicitor saw him, or he could still be at large now.

"He could have been a danger to himself, as well as others.”