DETECTIVES hunting missing rapist Eddie Braime, who absconded from prison three weeks ago, made an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch programme this week.

Eddie Braime, who originates from Okehampton, was named in the nation's most wanted criminals in the programme on Monday night. He was serving three life sentences for rape when he absconded from North Sea Camp open prison near Boston in Lincolnshire on March 12.

Lincolnshire Police are working with Devon and Cornwall Police and other forces in their efforts to trace Braime. 

He is described as white, about 5'10" and has close-cropped ginger hair which he may now have shaved.  He has green eyes and a West Country accent and a number of tattoos including one on the right side of his neck of a cannabis leaf and some on his left hand of two birds (swallows). Police say he could now be clean-shaven and may no longer have the beard shown in the photograph. 

Officers say Braime has used a number of aliases and may be using the name Jake Edwards.  He has connections with motorbike groups and is known to have a good knowledge of boats and an interest in fishing.

Police are warning the public not to approach him and to contact them immediately with any sightings by dialling 999.