Australia sends serial child-sex offender back to Britain

The release of Mr Excell, who emigrated to Western Australia when he was 10 but never became a citizen, provoked outrage last night among groups dealing with sex abuse victims. He has been locked up for almost all his adult life serving sentences for convictions dating back to 1965, when he raped a boy aged seven.

He has been paroled from prison three times and committed another sex crime on each occasion.

After being released in 1973 he raped a nine-year-old boy and when he got out again in 1977 he raped a 13-year-old boy. In 1981 he was paroled again but was later convicted of indecent behaviour with a boy under 14.

The Australian authorities regard him as a "low to moderate" risk. He is also supported by his wife, Maxine, who he married while in jail, but who has since said she would not trust himwith her grandchildren.

The decision to return him to Britain was attacked by Stop it Now!, the campaign against child abuse. Tink Palmer, its director, said: "If you are moving a person from one territory to another, you are not altering the risk he poses. In fact he may be an even greater risk if he is put in a place he isn't familiar with. It is transferring the problem from one side of the world to another."

Upon arrival Mr Excell will be assessed for the danger he poses to children. If he is judged high risk, he will be closely monitored by police and social services.