Andrew Darling flees Ararat correctional centre as police warn he is ‘known to be violent’

Registered sex offender who is ‘known to be violent’ flees jail in the dead of the night as cops warn the public not to approach him

• Police issue alert about sex offender who walked out of post-custody facility 
• Andrew Darling cut off electronic bracelets before fleeing in dead of night 
• Police issued a description and images of the fugitive they warn could be violent 
•  Darling may ‘go bush for days’ after leaving the centre at 2am on Sunday

By David Southwell For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 06:08 GMT, 11 December 2022 | Updated: 06:08 GMT, 11 December 2022

A violent sex offender who can disappear into the bush for days has fled a Victorian correctional facility in the dead of the night. 

Andrew Darling fled the correctional centre on Warrack Road in the south-west Victorian town of Ararat just after 2am on Sunday. 

Darling, 52, was in post-sentence custody when he left the remote centre. 

Police issued a description and image of Darling on Sunday but warned the public he is ‘known to be violent’ and urged them not to approach him.

Andrew Darling fled the facility on Sunday

Police have described Darling as a bush survival expert and have warned members of the public not to approach him as he is potentially dangerous

Darling, who had short grey hair and a grey beard at the time of the escape.

Police said he could grow a long red beard however he may have shaven it in the time since he left.

Darling is regarded as a bush survival expert who may sleep rough for several days.

Police said he had strong connections to the Ballarat area and has been known to go ‘off grid’ in bushland for days at a time.

He is described as Caucasian with a solid build and is around 175cm in height with tattoos on his arms and legs.

Police have advised anyone who recognises Darling to call triple-zero immediately.

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