POLICE have released a picture of a psychiatric patient who escaped from a medium-security hospital near York.

Officers are warning the public not to approach Gabrielle Moses, 30, an Afro-Caribbean man who fled over a security fence at Stockton Hall Hospital, Stockton-on-the-Forest, at about 3pm on Wednesday. Police describe him as 5ft 7in tall with short-black hair. He is softly-spoken. When he escaped he was wearing a blue and red sweat top, black jeans and blue baseball cap. He is believed to have connections in the Hull area.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "The public are advised not to approach him."

Anyone with information should phone York police on 01904 669884.

A York man who disappeared on Monday has been found safe and well. Tim Gemmell, 21, from Overton, near York, was last seen in York on Monday afternoon. He had never gone missing before,but had been depressed.

But North Yorkshire Police today said Mr Gemmell had contacted his family and is safe and well.

Updated: 10:30 Friday, February 13, 2004