A woman has been charged with harbouring Cornell Destouches, the convict who escaped while on leave from a mental health unit.

Karen Prosser, 37, of Leyton, was charged yesterday with knowingly harbouring a patient who is absent without leave or is otherwise at large, contrary to Section 128 Mental Health Act 1983; obstructing a constable and wasting police time.

Destouches fled from a minicab in Walthamsstow on April 10 while on escorted leave from the John Howard Centre in Homerton.

Police issued numerous appeals to trace the dangerous detainee, who had been convicted of attempted murder in 2014 after stabbing a Police Community Support Officer.

He was caught following a raid yesterday.

Prosser was set to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court today.