A HERBAL doctor who fled to China after he was charged with a sex offence on a patient may have been found thanks to The Northern Echo.

A reader tipped off police as to his wherabouts after a report earlier this month told how Dr Gu Zu Sun had failed to attend court and had returned to China.

Dr Sun is charged with a sex offence against a man he was treating at the Dr and Herbs treatment centre in The Cornmill Centre, Darlington.

Durham Police believe they have traced him to an address in China and have linked up with Interpol to try to initiate extradition proceedings.

Dr Sun, who was charged after the alleged offence last October, denied the charge at an initial court appearance.

A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to attend a subsequent hearing at South Durham Magistrates' Court in January.

The Northern Echo also revealed how a second man has contacted police since the original charge was brought, alleging he was sexually assaulted by Dr Sun during an acupuncture and massage sessions.

Detective Sergeant Dave Wilkes, of Darlington CID, said: "As a result of the article in The Northern Echo about Dr Sun and the court proceedings, a phone call came in to us.

"It was received within the last few days, and has brought us a line of inquiry we did not have before.

"We are in the stages of following it up and checking the information."

Staff at Darlington Dr and Herbs centre, which is part of a nationwide chain, said they were aware Dr Sun was in China, but had had no contact with him since he left the practice last year.

Durham Police said the warrant for Dr Sun's arrest was still outstanding. Anyone with information is asked to call 0845 6060 365.