POLICE today revealed they had located a Calderstones patient who absconded five weeks ago -- but said they would not be returning him to the East Lancashire mental unit.

The actions of Greater Manchester Police after they finally tracked down Andrew Sutcliffe, 18, in the Manchester area have been labelled bizarre by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who today said the whole case had gone from "bad to worse."

The patient gave a member of staff the slip while on a home visit to his mother's home in the Burnage area.

But despite their success, police have yet to inform Calderstones that Andrew has been found -- and have said they will not be taking him back to the Ribble Valley medium secure unit.

They said they were also unaware of the fact Andrew was referred to the hospital by a court, even though the hospital confirmed the fact to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph more than four weeks ago.

When told by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that the patient had been found, Mr Pearce said: "We have not been informed by the police that Andrew is found. Until that changes, we cannot comment further."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said today that she had just been informed the patient had been located but she was unable to check directly with the officer concerned to find out when.

She added: "We can confirm that Andrew Sutcliffe has been found safe and well at a relative's house.

"Although we have not been to see him, the relative has told us he is safe and well and we are happy with that.

"The officer involved in the case is happy that Andrew is okay to stay there, and we will not be returning him to Calderstones.

"He obviously wasn't happy there, which would explain why he absconded in the first place.

"We haven't informed Calderstones because, although we know where he is, he is still technically missing because we haven't seen him.

She added: "We are not aware that he is the subject of a court order."

Andrew told a female member of staff accompanying him on his home visit -- in the middle of July -- that he needed the toilet. He then escaped through a back door.

Police took several days to release a description of Andrew. Details of why he had been sent to Calderstones have never been made public.

Mr Evans is due to meet Calderstones NHS Trust chief executive Russ Pearce to discuss absconding patients after seven went missing from the hospital in 18 months.

He said: "This whole situation goes from bad to worse. Regardless of whether or not he was sent there by the courts, which the hospital say he was, he should be returned straight away.

"I find the actions of GMP bizarre to say the least. They have taken a very long time to make things public.

"I am meeting Russ Pearce today and I shall be talking to him about Andrew Sutcliffe to see what lessons can be learned."

Andrew was a resident at the more secure West Drive unit within Calderstones. Mr Pearce has always stressed that Andrew is not a danger to the public.

He was not considered to be likely to abscond.

Mr Pearce had said Andrew's absence had been the longest he had ever known, saying patients are normally only missing for a matter of hours.

Nigel Robinson, from the Community Health Council said: "It is good news that he has been found.

"Whether the police are legally obliged to return him to Calderstones depends on the type of order he was placed under. I know he was admitted under the courts but it could be that the order he was placed under has been reviewed or has expired.

"It is now up to Calderstones to follow this up."