POLICE investigating the disappearance of a man more than a month ago say they have begun retracing his last known steps.

Ian Sutton, who went missing after walking out of King George Hospital in Barley Lane, Goodmayes, on September 13, had been suffering from depression.

The 48-year-old tried to take his own life in March this year, and spent five months recovering in Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone.

During this time, he made what his mother, Maureen Sutton, called a “miraculous” recovery, which defied medical history.

“We were surprised when a doctor asked Ian if it was OK for him to be put in the British Medical Journal, because his recovery had been completely unexpected.” His mother recounts that as he was being assessed at hospital on the morning of September 13, he became agitated and walked out of the hospital.

“I pleaded with staff to make Ian stop, but no one did anything.”

Ian was then seen by security staff boarding a 173 bus towards Beckton.

A spokesman for Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital Trust said the circumstances surrounding Ian’s disappearance were “unfortunate”, but added they were unable to keep people against their will.

Police examining CCTV footage from the bus, recently discovered Ian had alighted around Barking Creek.

Mrs Sutton added: “This was so out of character. Although he didn’t feel ready to move to new sheltered accommodation, he had been happy because he pulled through the suicide attempt.”

“He saw it as a fresh start.” She added.

The Police Missing Persons unit said: “We are looking at possible places Mr Sutton may be from liaising with missing persons charities, and in addition we are revisiting places Mr Sutton had frequented in the past.”

Mr Sutton, of Beaminster Gardens, Barkingside, is described as white, with shaven hair, green/blue eyes and unshaven. He is 5ft 6in tall and was last seen wearing beige combat trousers, white trainers, a white Fila tracksuit top and navy blue West Ham jacket.

Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to call the National Missing Persons Helpline on 0500700700.