Friday 27 August 2010

21st missing convicted child sexual offender posted on Most Wanted site as 18th is arrested

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre are appealing to the public for information to locate the 21 ^st convicted child sexual offender whose details have today been posted onto the CEOP Centre’s Most Wanted website www.ceop.police.uk/wanted.

Fraser Benjamin MCLAUGHLIN, 57, of Hamilton, Scotland was last seen boarding a ferry from Hamilton to Northern Ireland on 5 May 2010 where it is believed he has ‘strong ties’. It is thought he may also have links to Blackpool and Lancashire.

In addition to breaching his Sexual Offenders Register notification requirements, an offence which carries up to five years in prison, McLaughlin is also wanted for failing to answer bail in relation to previous child abuse image offences.

McLaughlin, who is the second Scottish offender to be posted on the site, is described as having greying red hair, a small moustache and may wear glasses. He is diabetic and has a heart condition. When he was last seen he was wearing a cloth cap, a red and blue jacket and a white sweater.

Since the launch of CEOP's Most Wanted site in November 2006, 18 of the 21 offenders posted have been located. These 18 offenders had been missing for a combined total of 55 years and 3 months.

Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of CEOP and lead for Child Protection for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said: “Fraser McLaughlin is the 21 ^st high risk missing convicted child sexual offender that has been placed on CEOP’s Most Wanted site and should today be a worried man.

“Only this week another offender posted on the site has returned to custody after he thought he could escape the consequences of his crime. Our success in locating these individuals has reached as far as Europe and South America.

“I therefore encourage people to register on the Most Wanted website via www.ceop.police.uk/wanted to look at McLaughlin’s details and those of other individuals to see what they can do to bring those offenders to account.”

Detective Inspector David Tassie of Strathclyde Police continues: “Strathclyde Police has been working closely with partners in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland to trace Fraser McLaughlin. I would appeal to anyone with information to contact police.”

Keith Raymond VINCENT – also known as James ANDREW was arrested by officers at Salisbury Police Station on Tuesday 24^th August 2010, having been missing for six years.

Vincent, 66, had been wanted by police for failing to comply with his requirements on the Sex Offenders Register and had been on CEOP’s Most Wanted website since March 2009.

He was charged with five counts of making indecent photographs, one count of possessing indecent images and three counts of failing to comply with notification requirements while on the Sex Offenders Register, after appearing at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Wednesday 25^th August 2010. He has been remanded in custody to appear back at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Thursday 2^nd September 2010.

Outstanding offenders currently on the CEOP Wanted website are:

Jason Elton John WALLER, 33, from Plymouth. Waller is described as 5’8”tall and overweight with light brown, short receding hair. He has previously had a moustache and beard, and speaks with a West Country accent. He is known to live a nomadic lifestyle across many parts of the UK including Cornwall, Devon, Basingstoke, Kent, Cardiff, Brighton, London, Bangor, Guildford and Cheltenham. He has been missing from the Plymouth area since March 2009.

Stephen Mark CLARE, approx 40 years old. Clare was last known to have resided in the Newcastle upon Tyne area. He is 5' 10”, of slim build, brown hair, has a Midlands accent and a scar on the inside of his left shin. He has previously had connections with the Bromsgrove area of West Midlands and in Brighton, East Sussex. However it is assessed as likely that he could be abroad.