'Most wanted' paedophile to learn extradition fate

Britain’s most wanted paedophile will learn today whether he faces being extradited from Ireland to the UK after seven years on the run.

Fugitive John Richard Murrell was arrested in Co Kildare in September after his details were posted on the UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre website.

The 39-year-old had served only half of a two-year jail sentence in England for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl before being released under licence in 2000 and fleeing.

He is wanted by West Mercia Police to answer charges of breaching the terms of his release.

If extradited the penalty is up to five years in jail.

In 1999 Murrell was convicted in Worcester Crown Court on three counts of indecent assault on the nine-year-old girl and a further charge of indecency after forcing her and her sister to watch him as he performed a sex act.

He was sentenced to three 18-month jail terms, to be served concurrently, and a six-month sentence to be served consecutively.

Murrell was released after 12 months behind bars.

He was freed under licence and ordered to reside in a halfway house in Worcester and to inform West Mercia Police of his address, if he changed address or if was living under an assumed name.

Murrell never contacted authorities on his release and fled the area. It is thought he went on the run with his wife and three children.

West Mercia Police have asked the Irish courts to send Murrell directly to a court in Worcester to face charges relating to his disappearance and breaches of his licence.

After seven years on the run a breakthrough in the case came after his details were posted on the UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre most wanted list and gardai and British police began working together.

Two years ago he featured on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme and adverts in British newspapers and there were reported possible sightings of him in Belfast, Aberystwyth, Wales and Blackpool.