A ‘HIGH-risk’ sex offender has gone missing from his home in East Lancashire.

Police are now hunting convicted rapist Gary Wolstenholme, 30, after he breached the terms of his release from prison.

He has been missing since Tuesday after he left his home in Accrington.

Police think he may be in the Blackpool area, and officers believe he poses a significant risk of reoffending.

Detective Inspector Stephen Dowson said: “Gary Wolstenholme is a registered sex offender with a serious sexual conviction. I believe he poses a significant risk of harm and I would appeal to anyone who knows where he may be to get in touch with us.

“Sex offenders are managed in the community by police and partners, a system which aims to prevent them committing further offences.

“But if they do not comply with the obligations of their licence, or Sex Offender Prevention Order, then we will take robust and positive action to locate them, as we are doing in this case.”

Wolstenholme is originally from the South Shore area of Blackpool.

In 2003, he was jailed for eight years after he was convicted of raping a 33-year-old woman he met outside a nightclub in St Annes.

He was released on licence last year after serving seven years of his sentence. His extended licence was due to expire in 2015.

If anyone has any information about Wolstenholme’s whereabouts they can contact Lancashire Police on 08451 25 35 45, or they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.