September 2008

Police catch up with convicted paedophile who did runner

A CONVICTED paedophile facing 20 years in jail has been arrested after going on the run.

John Tregalles, 61, was arrested last night in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, after police received a tip off from a member of the public

Detectives had appealed for information after Tregalles, from Northumberland Place, Teignmouth, disappeared on September 15 while on trial at Bolton Crown Court.

He was given a 20-year sentence in his absence alongside an order to sign the sex offender register for life after he was convicted of three counts of raping a child under 16 years old and another serious offence against a boy under 13.

He was also been found guilty of three counts of indecent assault against boys aged under 13; two counts of gross indecency with a girl under 13; and two counts of aiding and abetting indecent assault on a girl under 13.

He was also sentenced for four physical assaults on a boy under 13 and one on a girl under 13.

The charges relate to offences committed between 1986 and 1991 when he lived in Rochdale Lancashire.