A MISSING sex offender has been arrested in Paris on suspicion of involvement in prostitution.

And now Lancashire police are in the process of applying to extradite Gerard Hayslop, 26, who is from Burnley, back to this country.

Hayslop's partner Louise Howarth-Lee, 20, has also been arrested by French police on suspicion of involvement in prostitution, police said.

According to officers, both are due in a Paris court in connection with alleged prostitution offences.

Police had been hunting Hayslop since August when he skipped bail after admitting child porn offences.

It was believed that Hayslop had fled to France from Jersey in a kayak.

A warrant was issued for his arrest in August.

But last week police said that they had scaled back the hunt for Hayslop and were waiting for information on his whereabouts, rather than actively hunting him in France.

A spokesman for Lancashire police said: "Gerard Hayslop and Louise Howarth-Lee have been arrested in Paris on suspicion of involvement in prostitution.

"They are due in court in Paris.

"Lancashire police are following protocols to obtain their extradition back to the UK for questioning in Lancashire."

Haylop's father, Gerard senior, of Hollingreave Road, Burnley, said: "It was inevitable he was going to get caught, so now he has to get on with it.

"He will have to return home and face justice.

"It's been a mystery to me. I've been wondering how they have survived and where the money has come from.

"I would like to speak to him again even though it's been two-and-a-half years since I heard from him.

"I want to know what has happened and what the original problem was."