An urgent search is underway for a rapist immigration detainee who escaped from custody in Western Sydney.

Michael Angok, 30, fled about 9.30am on Wednesday after being transported from Villawood Immigration Detention Centre to Bankstown Hospital, police said.

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Detective Superintendent Brett Van Akker said Angok had been taken to the hospital for medical treatment before running from a ward.

“This person is well known to the police,” he said.

The 30-year-old has been in immigration detention for years awaiting deportation after serving a prison sentence for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl at Doonside in 2014.

“Being of such a tender age, she is traumatised to an extent that I can’t even really describe,” police said in 2014.

He was sentenced to a minimum non-parole period of two years and was released from prison in 2017.

A major search was launched over the last 24 hours, with officers and specialist resources deployed to the Bankstown area.

Personal items believed to belong to Angok were later found abandoned on Gallipoli Road, but there was no sign of him.

“There were some number of items were found, but they will be forensically examined. I won’t comment about what they were,” Van Akker said.

As the search continues, anyone who sees him is urged not to approach him, but to call Triple-0 immediately.

“It is an offence to harbour somebody, and I just ask that they come forward immediately,” Van Akker said.

Residents have assisted police, leading officers to track footprints through building sites.

7NEWS understands Angok was in the custody of a private security firm when he somehow got loose

The company Secure Journeys only recently took over the security contract for immigration.

The Australian Federal Police has taken out a warrant for Angok’s arrest. Officers are out speaking with his known associates, particularly in the Blacktown area.

Angok is described as being of African appearance, about 175cm to 180cm tall, of thin build, with short black hair.

He was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, grey tracksuit pants and white “Croc”-style sandals.

Police said Angok previously lived in the Blacktown area and may be using public transport.