A self confessed witch hunter who plotted to decapitate and burn 57 people he accused of sorcery has gone on the run in Sweden after escaping from psychiatric care.

Police have launched a hunt for the 38-year-old man, who has not been named, amid fears he is planning to murder his ex-wife.

The man had been at a psychiatric hospital in the town of Hassleholm but gave guards the slip after being allowed to walk freely within the building's grounds.

Police in the Swedish city of Malmo are searching for a man who plotted to decapitate and burn 57 people he accused of sorcery after he escaped for psychiatric care (file picture)

He had been sent to the facility last autumn after admitting in court he wanted to kidnap, tie up, decapitate and then burn his brother-in-law, as part of a witch hunt.

Later when examining his computer, police discovered a list of 56 people for whom he also wanted to kill.

It follows a previous conviction where he was jailed for assaulting his ex-wife and son after she said he accused her of witchcraft.

Now officers believe the man may have travelled to the Swedish city of Malmo to try to find his ex-wife, who has been forced to go into hiding.

One of her relatives told Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan: 'We are scared to death. We're at home in our apartments all of us and do not dare go outside.

It is believed that the man has travelled to the city of Malmo, pictured, as he is plotting to kill his ex-wife

'Today he looked for his ex-wife at her workplace. Malmö is a small city, he has been at the workplace and others have seen him.'

However, a Malmo police spokesman told the newspaper: 'We have received the file and we have a group working during the day on searching for wanted people.