Child sex suspect arrested in Thailand

A BRITISH pensioner wanted for child sex offences in Australia has been arrested in Thailand, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection agency said.

Roderick Robinson, 73, was detained in Pattaya on Tuesday, having been on the run from Australia since 2001.

Thai authorities said British-born Mr Robinson’s right to stay in the country had been cancelled and he would be deported back to the UK.

Mr Robinson was first arrested in 2001 in Australia for the alleged assault of a young girl and was bailed pending court hearings, according to the Ceop spokeswoman.

He failed to appear to answer the charges in 2001 and fled to New Zealand where he was arrested for child sex offences allegedly committed there.

He was granted bail with the requirement he surrender his passport.

But in November 2009 using a stolen passport, Mr Robinson left New Zealand.

Ceop investigators, working with local police and the UK Border Agency, then traced him to Portugal where he was arrested in March 2010 and brought back to Australia.

But having been given bail, Mr Robinson once again used a forged passport and made his way to Thailand where he was arrested this week.

A Ceop spokeswoman said that once back in the UK, Robinson would be met by police and put on the sex offenders register.

She added: “As part of the notification requirements of this, he will be required to inform police of any travel plans.”

The Ceop spokeswoman said that the Australian authorities could apply for him to be deported to face the outstanding charges there or they might simply allow him to be managed by the British authorities.

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