A convicted killer who escaped from a mental hospital was today urged to give himself up.

Philip Wilkinson, 53, was jailed for life in 1987 after he murdered his lover Mary Gidvani at their seaside home in Jaywick by stabbing her with a kitchen knife.

He was serving his sentence at HMP Kingston near Portsmouth but was transferred under the Mental Health Act to Runwell Hospital near Wickford which specialises in mental illness. He had been a patient in the hospital's secure unit since June.

Staff realised he was missing on Friday and alerted the police but it was not until Sunday that his disappearance was made public.

Wilkinson escaped by prising open a bathroom window with a sharp object. He was dressed in a shirt, jeans and slippers and was wearing glasses.

Police released the information that Wilkinson was a convicted killer yesterday lunchtime.

A police spokesman said the delay had been because they had to carry out searches for him first. He is known to have contacts in Essex.

He added: "By Sunday it was felt searches could not locate him."

Police warned the public not to approach him and appealed for Wilkinson to give himself up.

Acting Det Insp Liam Osborne, who is heading the search, said: "We would not like any member of the public to approach him but if he wants to walk into a police station or give us a phone call, we would be pleased."

An investigation is to be held at Runwell following Wilkinson's escape.

Fouzua Basit, corporate affairs manager at Southend Community Care Services NHS Trust which runs Runwell Hospital, said: "He was in as secure an environment as can possibly be had in a hospital.

"Sometimes these things happen and there will be a full investigation.

"Although he is not considered a threat to the public, staff are concerned for his own safety."

Wilkinson can be identified by a scroll tattooed on his right arm and two fingertips on his left hand are missing.

He is described as slim, about 5ft 10ins tall, of pale complexion.

Anyone who might have seen him is asked to contact 01268 532212.

At large - Philip Wilkinson Violent affair ended in killing

Violent killer Philip Wilkinson and his lover Mary Gidvani had lived together on and off for a number of years.

Their relationship was described as "stormy, often violent". In the end, it was to become a fatal liaison.

Mary Gidvani, 47, who was only 5ft 1in tall, was often beaten. Wilkinson was transformed by too much drink into a violent and dangerous man.

And it was in this state he stabbed Mary after a row at their seaside chalet home in Seashell Way, Jaywick.

She was stabbed with an eight-and-a-half inch kitchen knife three times - once in the back and twice in the front of her body.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard during the trial that one of the wounds went from the front of her body and almost reached to her back.

Neighbours were alerted to the attack by the sound of shouting and found her lying wounded. She died after being taken to hospital.

Wilkinson had denied murder at Chelmsford Crown Court but admitted manslaughter claiming he had no real memory of what went on.

However, it took the jury just two hours 20 minutes to find Wilkinson guilty of murder on July 9, 1986 after a four day trial.

Judge Peter Greenwood told him: "What is perfectly clear from your record is that when you are drunk you are a vicious and dangerous man."

He recalled that in 1983 he had been sentenced to five years imprisonment for wounding with a knife although this had been reduced to three years on appeal.

The judge recommended he serve a minimum jail term of 15 years.

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