DETECTIVES have renewed an appeal to the public to help locate Corella Place absconder Andrew Darling as the search for him enters a sixth day.
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A nationwide alert has been issued for the convicted sex offender who triggered an alarm after cutting off his electronic tracking bracelet at the correctional facility on Warrak Road shortly after 2.30am Sunday morning.
Det Act Superintendent Ian Campbell has revealed Darling had been saving money over a period of time in the lead up to his escape, enough for him to facilitate a move interstate.
"At this stage we are unclear of his whereabouts... he is a high risk sex offender and he is a risk," he said.
"We're keeping very much an open mind as to his current whereabouts, we don't have any specific intelligence or advice that he may still be up in that area (Ararat) or he may be within Victoria or possibly interstate.
"This is a fresh appeal for Andrew Darling to hand himself in or anybody else who may know of his current whereabouts to contact Victoria Police immediately."
It has also now been revealed that this is the third time in five years Darling has breached his parole conditions and the second time he has absconded from Ararat's Corella Place. When he did so in 2010 he was located in the Ararat area.
Darling's first breach of parole occurred in 2009 when he left Victoria a day after his release from prison. He was arrested two days later in Queensland.
Darling was released on parole from Port Phillip Prison on May 20, 2009, after serving a nine-year sentence for the rape of a 13-year old girl.
He assaulted the girl in her bed after breaking into her family's home to commit a burglary.
Darling is described as fair skinned, about 176 centimetres tall with a medium build, blue eyes, and light-coloured close cropped hair.
It isn't known what he was last seen wearing, but he is known to wear camouflage clothing.
He also has both ears pierced, and tattoos on his right lower leg, back and arms.
Members of the public are warned to stay away from Darling and to phone Triple Zero (000) if he is sighted.