MISSING bogus doctor Paul Bint was arrested last night by detectives in the Barrowford area.

Bint, 37, was re-captured after disappearing from his Blackburn bail hostel on Sunday.

He was arrested just hours after police and the Probation Service finally revealed his disappearance - three days after he went missing.

Bint was jailed in October 1994 after a series of theft and deception offences at hospitals. He had tried to con his way into Blackburn Royal Infirmary in December, 1993, by asking for a doctor's bleeper and had tricked his way into the renal unit of the Royal Preston Hospital and sent a patient for treatment.

As Bint was today waiting to be transferred back to Preston Prison for breach of his licence conditions, patient watchdogs called for an inquiry to discover why the three-day delay occurred.

They are particularly concerned that it was two days before hospitals in Blackburn and Burnley were informed of his vanishing act. Bint was released from prison four weeks ago and has been trying to change his name to Lachlan Gates.

Nigel Robinson, chief officer of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council, which looks after the interests of patients, said it was appalling that hospitals had to wait two days before they were informed and that the public had to wait three days. He said: "Bearing in mind his history, I find it absolutely appalling that this has happened.

"The public and patients should have known as soon as possible after it was realised he disappeared. It was also two days before hospitals were told. There should be a full inquiry."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, said: "It is disturbing that the public had to wait for three days bearing in mind this man's track record."

"But the hospitals should have been told straight away."

However, a probation service spokesman said immediate action was taken to inform the Home Office as the first necessary step for his arrest and return to custody.

Gillian Radcliffe, of Lancashire Police, said officers were informed immediately about the disappearance of Bint on Sunday.

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