A DANGEROUS sex offender who fled to America to evade justice has been jailed for more than six years.

Wayne Wilson was sentenced for child sex abuse at Newcastle Crown Court .

The court heard he was already the subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) following convictions for voyeurism and indecent images, when he fled the country while being investigated, in 2018, for reported sexual abuse

Northumbria Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) set about tracing Wilson, aided by international law enforcement.

Inquiries later revealed he fled to Dublin, then onto the United States.

Working closely with Homeland Security and other US authorities, he was detained, in Kasnsas, in April.

He was returned to the UK, in June, where he was charged with three sexual assaults on a child under 13 and remanded in custody.

The 38-year-old, formerly of Washington, admitted the charges and received the 74-month sentence, on Friday.

Detective Constable Elizabeth Biggins, of POLIT, who led efforts to trace Wilson, said: “The fact Wilson will spend a considerable time behind bars is welcome news to me and shows we will not sit back when seeking justice for victims.

“This man is a prolific paedophile who spent years on the run trying to avoid being brought to justice for a series of despicable offences.”

She added: “I hope this shows the lengths we are prepared to go to in order to protect children and bring offenders to justice.”

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