Paedophile arrested in Mexico back in UK prison

A paedophile who went on the run to Mexico was back behind bars today after being tracked down through a "most wanted" website.

Andrew Eden, 50, of Littleborough, Rochdale, appeared flanked by a prison guard in the dock at Manchester Magistrates' Court, as he was remanded into custody after being extradited from Mexico.

The former part-time fireman had been jailed for four years in 2001 for sex attacks on a seven-year-old girl and perverting the course of justice.

But after his release from jail in August 2003 he was still on licence and should have notified police of a change of address and reported to a police station on a regular basis under the terms of the Sex Offenders Act.

Instead he went missing in January 2005 and police put his photograph and details on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre's Most Wanted website.

He was spotted by a member of the public in Mexico, arrested last September and finally returned to the UK this week.

Eden now faces a further three charges of failing to notify police of a change of his address, failing to notify of his intention to travel abroad and failing to periodically report to police, all breaches of the terms of his release from jail on licence.

He will also have to serve the remainder of his sentence for the original offences of indecent assault on the girl and perverting the course of justice, in jail.

Deputy District Judge Jane Goodwin adjourned the case, for Eden to appear back at the court, via videolink from prison, on 13 July.