Lecturer Julian Myerscough flees court shortly before guilty verdict

Julian Myerscough, a former law lecturer at the University of East Anglia, disappeared from Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday afternoon

A former university law lecturer who fled from court shortly before a jury convicted him has gone on the run.

Julian Myerscough, 53, absconded from Ipswich Crown Court during a lunch break, the East Anglian Daily Times revealed.

Jurors delivered guilty verdicts on 16 charges of downloading indecent images of children in his absence, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police believe Myerscough boarded a London-bound train at Ipswich station.

He had been charged with downloading indecent images of children and breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

The former University of East Anglia academic, of Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, was first convicted of similar offences and jailed for 15 months in 2010.

Ipswich Railway Station is about a quarter of a mile from the crown court building

He was believed to have boarded the 13:43 BST train from Ipswich, on Wednesday, which stopped at Manningtree, Colchester, Chelmsford, Stratford and Liverpool Street, police said.

British Transport Police met the train at Liverpool Street, but found no trace of him.

Myerscough, who had been granted bail during his trial, is white, 6ft 2in (187cm) tall and with greying hair, according to Suffolk Police.

Officers are asking the public to look out for anyone matching the description, particularly in the areas around the Essex and London railway stops or at regional sea or airports.