Police fear for the safety of a 37-year-old schizophrenic who walked out of a Thornton Heath care home on Friday.

Luigi Dowse, who is mentally handicapped, left the care home in Boswell Road just after 8.30am last week.

He has been upset since returning from Italy where he recently visited relatives and police are concerned that he will not receive the necessary medication to stabilise his mental condition. He also needs regular blood tests to monitor his progress. A police spokesman said: "This is very out of character - he has been at the home for seven years and does not have a history of doing this sort of thing. He is not a danger to others but he may be a danger to himself."

He is described as being of Mediterranean appearance, about 5ft 8in tall, heavily built, with collar-length, receding, black hair. He was wearing a light green jumper, a blue and white shirt, a blue anorak and brown boots.

Anyone with any information should contact Norbury Police on 0181 649 1103.

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