Paedophile on 'most wanted' site

Millbank is thought to have escaped to France

A convicted paedophile who went on the run has been featured on a child protection organisation's "most wanted" site.

Joseph Millbank, 48, is thought to have escaped to Europe after going missing from the Perth area on Friday 27 June.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) Centre has posted his details on its most wanted website to raise the profile of the hunt for him.

Police have urged holidaymakers to look out for the sex offender.

Millbank, who is said to pose a "significant risk" to children, was sentenced for three charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices in January 2002 at the High Court in Aberdeen.

He abused young girls in towns and cities across Scotland, including Elgin and Aberdeen.

By adding his photograph and details to the Ceop website we now have thousands of additional eyes looking out for him Sarah Craig Tayside Police

He was sentenced to 10 years in jail, with a 10-year extended period. A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to comply with the conditions of his licence after being released from prison on 6 May this year.

Tayside Police believe he has travelled to France and could be further afield in Europe.

The force hopes that adding Millbank to the Ceop site will allow thousands more members of the public to help locate him by viewing his photo and description.

Det Insp Steve Bissett said: "Joseph Millbank we regard as a significant risk of harm to children.

"We wanted to get the details of Joseph Millbank circulated as far and wide as possible. The Ceop website will give us access to more people throughout Europe, possibly throughout the world.

"Clearly any sightings of Joseph Millbank, or any sightings of his vehicle, would be of great value to ourselves in order to track this male down and bring him back to this country and put him back into custody as quickly as possible."

Millbank was driving a blue Vauxhall Omega estate, with the registration W834 MET.

Ceop said 10 of the UK's highest-risk child sex offenders - missing for a combined total of more than 20 years - have so far been located as a direct result of the most wanted website.

'Pose a threat'

Tom Halpin, of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: "We will not stop at our own borders in trying to locate high-risk individuals who may pose a threat to children, wherever they may be.

"I hope that people will look at his picture and look out for him on their travels."

Millbank is described as being 6ft 2in tall and with a medium build. He has green eyes and short dark hair and is bald on top.

Anyone who sees him or who knows of his whereabouts is urged to contact the police immediately.

The Ceop Centre joined forces with the charity Crimestoppers to develop most wanted in November 2006 as the UK's first national website dedicated to locating child sex offenders who have failed to comply with notification requirements.