Horne placed on UK sex offenders register

Child protection groups want tough conditions imposed on a serial paedophile deported to Britain.Raymond Horne, who moved to Australia as a child, was met by police when he landed at London's Heathrow Airport on a flight from Brisbane after serving a 12-year jail sentence.The 61-year-old's latest stint in prison was for 14 sex offences committed after he lured two homeless boys to his apartment while volunteering for a charity, according to reports.Queensland's minister for police and corrective services, Judy Spence, said the state was "well rid" of the predatory sex offender, whose convictions go back over 40 years.Horne was placed on the UK sex offenders register on his arrival - and could be banned from having contact with children under a sexual offences prevention order (Sopo) if a court rules he presents a serious risk to youngsters.Breach of the sex offenders' register is a criminal offence, with a maximum punishment of five years' imprisonment.Child protection campaigners have raised concerns about the practice of deporting convicted paedophiles back to the UK after they complete jail terms abroad.Despite having British citizenship, some of the offenders have lived overseas for decades and have no family or friends in this country.Experts warn this will make them isolated and more likely to commit new offences.In a reversal of Britain's use of Australia for penal colonies until the mid-19th century, in recent years a number of high-profile ageing paedophiles have been sent back to the UK.In July 2005, Robert Excell was deported to Britain after spending 37 years in Australian prisons for child sex convictions dating back to 1965.Excell was born in the UK and emigrated to Australia when he was ten but never became a citizen.Last May it was reported that "high risk" paedophile Keith Jamieson was being deported to Britain following a lengthy sentence for offences on young boys despite having lived in Australia for 36 years.© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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ITN | March 20, 2008