A PATIENT on the run from a psychiatric unit was originally detained after stabbing and threatening to kill a man with a kitchen knife.

Albert Oszmianski, 39, who absconded from Kemple View unit, Langho, on Friday, was sentenced to be detained indefinitely at Preston Crown Court in July. Police have said he does not have his medication with him so is potentially dangerous and should not be approached.

The victim, Gary Turner, fought with Oszmianski after he had snatched a charity leaflet from his letterbox in July 2000.

The day after, when the pair bumped into each other on the promenade in Morecambe Oszmianski had told Mr Turner "you're dead, I'm going to kill you".

Later that he day he stabbed Mr Turner, narrowly missing major arteries and organs near the stomach.

Oszmianski was later traced to his flat where police found him hacking off handfuls of his long hair.

The court heard how Oszmianski had delusions that he needed to defend himself and frequently carried knives.

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Openshaw QC said a hospital order to detain him indefinitely was needed for the protection of the public.

The firm which owns Kemple View, Partnerships in Care Ltd, is based in Hertfordshire.

It has more than 700 beds across all its services and currently employs almost 2,000 staff.

An investigation was launched in 1999 after four patients escaped in three days from its psychiatric unit at Stockton Hall Hospital, near York.

A spokesman for the NHS Executive North West today said Kemple View was inspected before it decided to place patients there.

Graham Sowter, vice-chairman of Billington and Langho Parish Council, also sits on the panel at Kemple View, which decides who can be released.

"I have every confidence with the people down there," he said.

Chief officer with Blackburn, Darwen and Ribble Valley Community Health Council Nigel Robinson, said he and other members visited the private unit about two years ago and were all happy with security measures in place.

"It's a concern, but if a patient is intent on escaping there's not a lot you can do about it sometimes."

Kemple View is a secure psychiatric unit that provides rehabilitation for 64 adults with severe mental health illnesses in four separate units. It can also hold people, like Mr Oszmianski, who have been served with a hospital order after conviction in court.

The centre is near the Rhyddings and Dales housing estates, Langho.

Oszmianski is white, stockily built, 5ft 8ins tall, with dark brown receding hair in a skin-head cut. He has brown eyes, speaks with a Midlands accent, and wearing a white T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.

Anyone who sees him should contact the police immediately on 01254 51212.