A POLICE force has moved to reassure residents on an exclusive estate after a sex offender was found to be living in their area.

Iorworth Hoare fled his £700,000 home at Darras Hall estate in Ponteland, near Newcastle, after his address was made public last week.

He is now living under 24-hour police protection at a safe house, while his luxury home also has officers stationed outside to guard against vigilante attacks.

Hoare, who has convictions for sex attacks dating from 1973, won £7m on the National Lottery in August 2004 when he was on weekend leave from prison.

Chief Superintendent Graham Pears said: "We recognise the importance of public reassurance and when there are matters of concern in the community, we listen and respond.

"My officers have been paying regular visits to the area, talking to residents and carrying out patrols to reassure local people, and will continue to do so for as long as is necessary. Once someone has served their prison sentence, they are free to settle where they choose. It is a matter for the individual to make choices about where they live.

"I can assure the community that robust arrangements are in place to protect the public. All sex offenders under our jurisdiction are subject to the same tried and tested multi-agency arrangements which we use to monitor their location and behaviour."