Manhunt underway after suspected sighting of violent sex offender near Perth A MAJOR manhunt has been mounted on a prominent hill overlooking Perth where an investigation is already underway to trace a violent sex offender on the run in Scotland after absconding from an open prison in England. Police hunt man on the run from open prison after sighting at Kinnoull Hill Lee Cyrus raped woman, 23, in her Perth home last week Lee Cyrus, 47 who is serving a life sentence for robbery, is being sought by the police after he failed to return from day release to the North Sea Camp open prison in Boston, Lincolnshire on Tuesday 9 October. Tayside Police are understood to be searching for Cyrus in connection with the brutal sexual assault on a 23-year-old women who was raped in her home in Perth on 15 October. More than 30 officers have been deployed to Kinnoull Hill following reports of a man being seen acting suspiciously in the area. A spokesman for the force said: "Tayside Police are continuing enquiries to trace a suspicious male who was seen by the A90 Perth to Dundee road before running into the woods at Kinnoull Hill. The man was spotted by an off duty police officer who was driving through the area at about 7.20am. He turned around to try and locate the man, but by then he was lost to view. A large police resource has been in the area in the time since in an effort to trace the man. He added: "The public will be aware that Tayside Police, along with other forces, are making enquiries to trace the whereabouts of absconder Lee Cyrus. It is too early to confirm whether today's sighting is linked to those enquiries. Around 30 police officers are involved in the search at and around Kinnoull Hill, including search trained officers, dog handlers and dogs and the Tayside Police Search and Rescue Team, as well as local community officers. Strathclyde Police's helicopter and crew are also supporting the enquiry. The man being sought is described as being of medium build, with a round face and clean shaven. He is wearing muddy dark coloured waterproof and a beanie hat and carrying a rucksack style bag. Cyrus, also known as Ivan Leach, was jailed for life in 2005 for robbing a 90-year-old woman. He also has convictions for burglary and robbery and assault and for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.