Convicted paedophile on the run

A cleaner who has been convicted of a paedophile attack in west Wales has disappeared after jumping bail.

Eric Peachey, 58, from Aberystwyth, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a boy of nine at Swansea Crown Court, but was given bail by a judge.

Peachey was found guilty on 1 May

He has been on the run for at least nine days after going missing before being sentenced.

Meanwhile, a Dyfed-Powys Police chief has now called for stricter laws to punish paedophiles who re-offend.

Peachey, who has worked as a school cleaner and at a burger bar in Aberystwyth, was found guilty on 1 May.

Dyfed-Powys Police have now appealed for help in tracing him.

"My officers are looking for him but at the moment we do not know where he is. He is not at his home," said Chief Supt Alun Williams.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who has seen Peachey or has any idea of his whereabouts.

It's not right that he was allowed out on bail

Neighbour of Peachey

The father of Peachey's victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has said he is "disgusted" that the convicted paedophile was bailed.

The father is also angry that he was not told that Peachey, from Aberystwyth in west Wales, was on the run.

Originally from Brighton, Sussex, Peachey moved to west Wales approximately five years ago, after being jailed for burglary.

At the time of the assault in April 2001, he was working as a cleaner at a local primary school, and then found work at a burger bar.

Neighbours in Aberystwyth were horrified that a convicted paedophile was living in their midst.

One man, who lives directly opposite Peachey's flat with his three-year-old son, said the conviction made him "feel sick".

"A lot of the children from these flats play in the car park in between the two blocks, especially when the weather is nice," he said.

"It's not right that he was allowed out on bail."

Chief demands

Meanwhile, a leading police chief in Dyfed Powys has called for tougher laws to keep paedophiles off the streets for life.

Terry Grange, Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys, said paedophiles who re-offend or kill a child should never be released.

"Protecting children is of the highest priority to the Government

Home Office spokesman

Mr Grange admitted the Human Rights Act stresses that offenders who had served their sentence had to be given a second chance.

Describing paedophiles as "fairly dangerous, fairly devious and excessively manipulating people", he said that re-offending child sex offenders should be punished severely.

"The alternative seems to be give them one chance and then lock them up for a very long time," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "Protecting children is of the highest priority to the government.

"We must do everything we can to ensure that the public is protected from offenders where a risk can be foreseen."

Anyone with any information is enouraged to contact the police on 01970 612 791