A ‘HIGH-risk’ paedophile is being hunted after going missing from his Lancashire home, police said.

Officers have warned people not to approach William John Paden, 56, who lived for many years in Accrington.

He is a registered sex offender and is wanted after he left an address in Blackpool, according to police.

Detectives believe he may be in Northern Ireland and said he posed a ‘significant risk’ of reoffending.

Police said Paden has 19 sexual convictions dating back to 1974, including rape, indecent exposure, assault with intent to rape, indecent assault on a female child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and recently breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

He is banned from associating with children unless they are accompanied by an adult over 21, officers said.

Detective Superintendent Ian Critchley, head of Lancashire Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit, said: “William Paden is a Registered Sex Offender with a long history of convictions against children going back more than 30 years.

“I believe he poses a significant risk of harm and I would appeal to anyone who knows where he may be to get in touch with us.

"Sex offenders are managed in the community by police and partners which aims to prevent them committing further offences, but if they do not comply with the obligations of their licence, or Sex Offender Prevention Order, we will take robust and positive action to locate them.”

Contact Lancashire Police on 08451 25 35 45, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.