A 'SEX beast' from Thelwall is wanted by police as he 'presents a risk' to members of the public.

The 70-year-old in question is Richard Scatchard, who was convicted of eight offences at then-Warrington Crown Court in 2000.

Scatchard has been reported missing in Minehead, Somerset, and police are now treating him as a wanted man.

Formerly of Wilmslow Crescent, Thelwall, Scatchard pled guilty to eight offences during a hearing at Warrington Crown Court: three charges of drugging his victims, two charges of indecent assault, one attempted rape, one charge of theft and one charge of burglary.

At the time, the court heard of Scatchard's depraved obsession with drugging women he shared relationships with in order to create explicit videos.

One of his partners told the court that when she discovered intimate, non-consensual images of herself, she moved away from Scatchard's area.

He later broke into her home, stole personal papers so he could find her and even sprayed battery acid around the house destroying possessions worth thousands of pounds.

Warrington Guardian: He is described as white, about 5ft11in tall, of average build with short grey hair - he is believed to be travelling on foot or by electric bicycleHe is described as white, about 5ft11in tall, of average build with short grey hair - he is believed to be travelling on foot or by electric bicycle (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)

Sentencing Scatchard in 2000, Judge Hale said: "You have pleaded guilty to three sexual offences directed towards three women who showed you considerable kindness and love.

"In each case, you drugged them for your own purposes to commit offences.

"You are in my view a considerable danger to any woman with whom you enter a relationship.

"These are very grave sexual offences demanding a sentence of life imprisonment.

"I say that because I cannot predict at what stage you would be safe to release."

Now missing from Minehead, the 'sex beast' is being treated as a wanted man.

Detective Chief Inspector Jess Aston, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “While we remain concerned for Richard’s welfare we are now more concerned about the danger he may pose to other people, specifically women he forms relationships with.

“As a result of the enquiries we’ve carried out while looking for Richard, he is now wanted on a recall to prison.

“The last confirmed sighting of him was at a shop in Watchet on Sunday, October 15.

"We have since had an unconfirmed sighting of him in Minehead at about 10am the following day, Monday, October 16.

“Officers are currently carrying out enquiries in both the Minehead and Watchet areas to try to locate him.

“If you see him, or have any information about his whereabouts please contact us immediately.”