A known sex offender who sparked a nationwide hunt when he abducted a 12-year-old boy was jailed for 10 years today.

James Warke, 36, was eventually found in Worthing six says after abducting the boy.

Sentencing him at Preston Crown Court today, Judge Peter Openshawe told him: "You are an addicted and obsessive paedophile.

"The duty of the court is to protect the public."

Warke, of Blackburn, Lancashire, had pleaded guilty to abducting the boy at a ten-day trial at Carlisle Crown Court in October.

At the same trial he was convicted of a series of charges he had denied - four of gross indecency involving the boy, as well as three counts of gross indecency and one charge of indecent assault involving two other boys, aged 11 and 12.

The judge today jailed Warke for seven years for abducting the 12-year-old boy, as well as three years, to run concurrently, for the acts of indecency against the child.

He was jailed for a further three years, to run consecutively, for the offences involving the other two boys.

The court heard that Warke, originally from Northern Ireland, had a 21-year history of similar offences against boys.

He preyed on the vulnerable, pinpointing boys who had fallen out with their parents.

Warke had only recently moved to Blackburn when he carried out the offences for which he was sentenced today after befriending a number of young boys.

He was detained in Worthing six days after disappearing with the 12-year-old boy in May this year.

Warke was recognised by a local resident who saw a picture of him in a newspaper.

Warke had spent several nights sleeping rough in Brighton and conned shoppers into giving them money they claimed was for a sponsored bike ride.

After the hearing, Det Chief Insp Mick Turner of Blackburn CID thanked the media for their help in catching Warke.

"He's a paedophile with a 21-year history of abusing young boys," he said.

"This was a nightmare for the family of the young boy who was abducted.

"Both they and the police are grateful for the support provided by the media and the public."

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