Police believe missing prisoner Shane Todd is being harboured by members of the public, prompting warnings that it is an offence to assist anyone who is unlawfully at large.The fugitive Prison Farm inmate has been sighted “across the Island, principally in the central parishes, Pembroke, Paget and Hamilton Parish,” according to Acting Chief Inspector Andy Morgan.Asked if Mr Todd’s previous convictions for sex offences posed any risk, Acting Chf Insp Morgan said: “There’s nothing whatsoever to suggest that Mr Todd’s failure to return to the Prison Farm is connected in any way with the offences he has been convicted of.”He urged the public not to approach Mr Todd, but to contact police immediately at 295-0011 if he is spotted.Mr Todd’s record includes wounding causing bodily harm — a 1999 attack on an ex-girlfriend, in which he slashed the woman’s face. He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.A rampage in 2004 included hitting, threatening and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl, who shared a home with a mentally challenged aunt.The girl had a machete held to her face, and her aunt was gagged during the attack.An hour later, at another residence, he approached a group of three women, including two pensioners, asking to use a phone.In the subsequent attack, one was thrown down a staircase, sustaining a broken back. Mr Todd injured another with a machete, then fled in a stolen car after stealing a handbag, and was caught by police after a high-speed chase.In the Supreme Court, Mr Todd was given a 15-year sentence for the attacks, and ordered to receive treatment for paranoid schizophrenia while in jail. His lawyer described him as heavily addicted to drugs.Housed at the Prison Farm, Mr Todd was eventually granted a place on its work release programme. He failed to report back on June 29.Noting that “we are now seven days into the joint police and corrections manhunt”, Acting Chf Insp Morgan said the announcement was made for residents to maintain “heightened awareness” with the weekend coming on.Despite the Island’s small size, he said, “previous experience has taught us that it is very difficult to locate and apprehend without the assistance of the community.“We are encouraged by the assistance we have received so far.”Asked why police waited five days before announcing Mr Todd’s failure to report back to the Prison Farm, he said people on the work programme normally returned voluntarily, but that police and prison officers had taken action immediately to try and locate the prisoner.