John Arthur Radley

John Arthur Radley, aged 56 and residing in Finsbury Park, London, has gone on the run following his conviction for multiple child sexual offences. Radley, who had previously been convicted as a paedophile for abusing children in Chippenham and Calne, was on trial at Swindon Crown Court for further serious crimes. On Tuesday, he failed to attend the final day of the proceedings, leading to the court finding him guilty in his absence on 16 counts of sexual offences against children committed in Calne, Chippenham, and London.

The offences involved the abuse of children, now all adults, in these locations. Wiltshire Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team is providing appropriate support to the victims involved. Efforts to locate Radley have included checks at his London address, which yielded no results, and ongoing inquiries to track his whereabouts. His details have been entered into the police national computer, and an alert has been issued to the Ports Authority to prevent him from leaving the country.

PC Lizzie Porter from the Child Abuse Investigation Team stated: 'Whilst this man committed some appalling offences, for which he will be sentenced appropriately, we do not believe he is an immediate threat to the public but we do need to find him.' Authorities believe Radley does not have access to a car, and it is unclear where else he may have travelled. The public is urged to contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information on his location.

This case highlights the severity of child sexual abuse crimes and the challenges in apprehending fugitives post-conviction. The trial at Swindon Crown Court underscores the judicial process in Wiltshire, where Radley's prior convictions in the area add to the gravity of the new charges. Sentencing is pending his capture, ensuring he faces the full consequences of his actions.