A CONVICTED sex offender who left a secure hospital in Winchfield by climbing over a fence has handed himself into the police.

Stephen Munden, 54, hadn't been since seen he left Mildmay Oaks independent hospital at about 6.15pm on Tuesday, April 21.

But Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed that Munden handed himself in at a police station in the Thames Valley at quarter to one this morning.

Officers had been carrying out extensive searches, including using a police helicopter, and following up calls from members of the public since he went missing on Tuesday. 

Munden was detained at the facility, in Old Potbridge Road, under a hospital order after being sentenced for sexual offences last year.

These were for possessing, making, and attempting to make indecent images of children and sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.

The 54-year-old, from Marchwood, Southampton, was described in court as having a “fanatical obsession” with small girls after he targeted a toddler on a bus.

Police said he has been detained and taken to a mental health facility and thanked members of the public for sharing their appeal to find the 54-year-old.