A CONVICTED knifeman who escaped from a psychiatric hospital in Langho a week ago has turned himself in.

Albert Oszmianski, 39, walked into Kemple View secure unit at around 8.30am and detectives hope to interview him this afternoon to piece together his wherabouts.

The patient was walking in the grounds unsupervised when he escaped last Friday at around 10am.

Det Insp Jim Elston of Blackburn CID said detectives would interview Mr Oszmianski this afternoon to find out where he had spent the past week.

He said: "We will be carrying out detailed interviews to establish his movements while at large and trying to ensure that no offences were committed while he was absconded.

"At this stage, there is no evidence in our possession to suggest any member of the public came to any harm.

"That he came back of his own volition is reassuring."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said he was delighted Mr Oszmianski had turned himself in but it was important lessons were learned from the incident.

He said: "Now we need to know what action they at Kemple View are going to take to ensure safety of everybody in that area."

He said he has written to the Home Office to ask for assurances that Kemple View was acting in accordance with its licence.

A spokesman for Kemple View said: "Under our strict policy of patient confidentiality we are unable to provide information about an individual patient.

"When a patient returns to our care after absconding, they undergo a full risk assessment by professionals at the hospital responsible for their care and treatment from any outside bodies that is necessary.

"They will also not be allowed outside their unit without being escorted by a member of staff. They will only be allowed out unescorted once they have been fully assessed and stabilised and if agreed by the clinical team at Kemple View that there is no immediate risk to the public."

Security at the hospital is being reviewed with care homes watchdog the National Care Standards Commission.

Managers were already looking at putting in CCTV to cover perimeter exits before Mr Oszmianski absconded.

A NCSC spokeswoman said: "We visited the home this week and as far as we were concerned the incident was being handled properly.

The 39-year-old was convicted for wounding with intent in July 2001 at Preston Crown Court for stabbing a man in the stomach with a kitchen knife. He was sentenced to be detained indefinitely at a secure unit.