The angelic looks of ten year old Down’s Syndrome boy William Grassi give no indication that he has one mission in life – escaping from his home and running off.

He escaped from his Wilcot Road home in Pewsey for the second time this week and was found half a mile away at 7am on Tuesday still clutching a sharp kitchen knife he had used to force a door.

The first his mother knew of his disappearing act was a loud knocking at her door and her son calling through the letter box. When she opened her door William was in the arms of PC Derrick Foord who had been called to the Best One convenience store, a ten minutes walk away, where William had walked in with the filleting knife.

His mother Maurizia Quarta, who also has another son, James, 11, said she was being driven to distraction by a lack of help from the housing authority in getting the family a home from which Houdini boy William could not escape.

Mrs Quarta, 44, has lived in the privately rented house for seven years and said the owner was reluctant to let her add any further security measures to try and keep William in.

William, whose father lives in Italy, is a happy little lad who has a bad case of wanderlust and can open every door in the house even though Mrs Quarta has fitted high bolts which he reaches by standing on a chair.

She has taken to keeping her door keys and car keys clipped to her belt and at night takes them to bed with her.

A year ago William let himself out the back door and was found wandering about the streets at 5am by postman Nick Tanguy.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said that he was unable to discuss individual cases but said that people could approach the council for help and advice.

They could also seek to move to another home through the Homes4Wiltshire allocation system which was developed in partnership with 31 registered social landlords who all have properties in Wiltshire. Mrs Quarata says she has already spoken to a Homes 4 Wiltshire.

The spokesman said that requests for accommodation are prioritised in order of need.