A Schizophrenic who stabbed a schoolteacher to death in a frenzied attack eight years ago is being sought by police in Strathclyde after going missing from his supported accommodation.

Anthony O'Brien, 37, was last seen at his home in Inverness after being released into the community on licence.

He was subjected to a restriction order in 2000 after he admitted killing Bill Scott, 56, who was attacked in Cumbernauld the year before.

O'Brien, who at the time was severely delusional and believed he would die if someone hit his head, pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide after the Crown accepted that his responsibility was diminished because of schizophrenia.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive confirmed yesterday that O'Brien was a "conditionally discharged restricted patient" and had been missing since Thursday.

She could not say when O'Brien was released into the community for reasons of patient confidentiality but stressed he would not be considered a danger to the public.

"The decision was made that he was fit to be released on conditional discharge. The psychiatric deemed he is safe to be in the community," she said. "He doesn't pose an immediate threat to the public but there are concerns for his own safety."

Northern Constabulary, who are leading the search for O'Brien, appealed for anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact police.

A police spokesman said he is believed to be in the Strathclyde area but declined to say what this information was based on.

O'Brien was described as being 6ft 1 inches tall, of medium, muscular build, with short brown hair and clean shaven. He has a scar on his left cheek and a chipped front tooth.

His "normal clothing" is jeans and T-shirts and he usually wears a brown suede bomber jacket, police said.