The figure includes convictions for offences related to prostitution and consensual gay sex as well as rape, indecent assault and exposure or paedophile offences.

Researchers of the report, by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (Nacro), tracked the life histories of a group of men born in 1953 through to their 40th birthdays.

High proportion

They discovered that a surprisingly high proportion - 1.8% - had committed a sex crime.

The report also found the total number of men in the UK convicted of some kind of sexual offence was currently 260,000.

Of these, only 50,000 involved victimless crime such as consenting gay or adult sex.

110,000 men convicted of sex offences against children

A total of 110,000 involved crimes against children.

In April this year, 4,324 sex offenders were serving jail terms. A further 4,700 were being supervised by the probation service in the community.

Paul Cavadino, principal officer of Nacro, said the figures drove home the scale of the problem of sex crimes, illustrating how many people fell victim to such offences.

The report was compiled ahead of the introduction of new laws later this month which will allow judges to order sex offenders to serve longer periods of probation service supervision when they are released from jail.

Supervision periods are currently fixed by a tariff system. For example, an offender jailed for six years will normally be supervised for six months on release, although this can be extended to a maximum of two years.

The laws will allow that period to be extended to up to 10 years and could include requirements to stay in particular places, undergo treatment or stay away from certain places.

Increased protection

Mr Cavadino said the new laws would go a long way towards protecting the public.

He said up to 93% of offenders did not commit further offences while undergoing probation supervision.

However, there was still a strong case for the most dangerous sex offenders to be given indeterminate sentences so they could be kept in jail until they were deemed not to pose any risk to the public.

"The devastating effects of sexual offences on many victims can justify very substantial restrictions on the liberties of sex offenders, including indeterminate sentences for the most dangerous offenders.

"At the same time we owe it to the victims of abuse to deal with offenders, wherever possible in ways which increase the prospects of their successful treatment and rehabilitation, thereby preventing the suffering of future victims."