Hill search for paedophile

Police coordinating search of the hills

Police have been searching Scottish hills for a convicted paedophile who has been reported missing.

George Belmonte had been living on an estate about five miles from the village of Eskdalemuir, in Dumfriesshire, and was last seen on Monday.

Officers from Dumfries and Galloway Police and volunteers from the Moffat hill search team have been involved in the operation.

George Belmonte: Rehoused several times

Belmonte has a record of sex offences against children and has been a long-term problem for the authorities in Dumfries and Galloway.

He has been allocated a succession of homes across the region but has been hounded out of each of them by angry locals.

A few weeks ago it was revealed that he had moved to the remote Pengrain Estate at the invite of its owner, Dr Colin Betts.

The estate is about two hours' walk from the village but parents of local children expressed concern about the man's presence in the area.

However, writing to local newspapers last week, Dr Betts called on people to grant Mr Belmonte "peace and understanding".

When last seen, the missing man was thought to have been wearing a green waterproof jacket, dark trousers and a black hat.

He went into hiding in April after a caravan he was reported to be living in was overturned on the outskirts of Creetown in Galloway.

The incident came just days after Belmonte arrived in the area. He was transferred from Lockerbie, where there was a public outcry about his presence.

The problems with Belmonte have prompted Dumfries and Galloway Council to seek talks with the Scottish Executive over the housing of sex offenders.