AS disguises go it is hardly the most effective.

The tacky platinum wig and enormous pink Dame Edna Everage-style sunglasses do little to hide the man underneath.

But disguise is not what is intended– this is Southampton’s most wanted man provocatively taunting police.

The latest bizarre twist in the hunt for Michael Easy can be revealed today – on the day police make a national TV appeal to try to catch the 27-year-old fugitive.

This morning Hampshire police were launching a BBC Crimewatch appeal for the elusive runaway, who is the prime suspect in a knife attack in the city in which a 19-year-old woman was dragged into the street and her neck cut with an 8in knife outside a party.

Easy, who police have branded a danger to the public, has repeatedly taunted detectives through the Internet since first going on the run five weeks ago.

Despite hundreds of officers being put on alert and a huge manhunt in which properties in Mansbridge.

Bitterne, Bevois Valley and Eastleigh were searched, he is still at large.

In the latest stunt he has set up a new Facebook account under the name “Michelle Dirt”, running in tandem with his original account “Michael Dirt”, where he sports his fancy dress outfit in his profile picture and poses with his finger pressed to his lips.

Last night police refused to comment on the account, but Sergeant Al Dineley, from the integrated offender management team, said: “We have carried out extensive local inquiries and liaised with other police forces across the country to track Michael Easy down. “We have had positive responses to our local appeals but we want to expand our appeal to the whole country now.

“We have used Crimewatch successfully many times before and we are hopeful that the programme will generate further sightings and bring in fresh information for us.

“I would urge Michael Easy – or anyone who knows where he is – to get in touch with police. We have teams of officers working to locate him and we are not going to give up trying to find him.”

The attack took place in the early hours of Sunday, May 26 and the teenager was also hit in the face and suffered a thigh injury.

Detectives have also advised two women feared to be at risk from him to move house, but believe Easy may no longer be hiding in Southampton and want to raise awareness in London where the Metropolitan Police have been working with detectives to locate him.

Witnesses or anyone who knows Easy’s whereabouts should contact Detective Constable Daniel Toman at Southampton Central CID or PC Katie Holmes in the Southampton IOM team on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.