A CHILD rapist who became a prison friend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley has been banned from returning home to haunt his victims after being shopped by his own brother.

William Blower, 49, was released from prison last week but is prevented from returning to the North-East where he committed his appalling crimes.

Blower, previously of Ainsdale Road, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, was convicted at Teesside Crown Court in 1998 of raping a seven-year-old girl.

After being locked up in Wakefield Prison with killer Huntley, he was released on licence and is said to be living in the Leeds area.

His brother on Teesside - who asked not to be named - had pressed the Probation Service to impose strict restrictions so the paedophile could not return to the area on his release.

His brother yesterday praised the Probation Service, but expressed concern about the future.

"I am still apprehensive," he said. "It is now down to him how he handles being back in society."

In court six years ago, Blower admitted three rape charges and one of causing actual bodily harm to a girl.

Charges of indecent assault against another girl were left to lie on file.

He was sentenced to nine years' jail and placed on the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life.

Police said that before the horrific details of the case emerged, Blower was well respected in the community and was regarded as the "hard man" of Thorntree.

His brother said: "I wrote a letter to the Chief Constable of Cleveland, Sean Price, to say that I wasn't happy with the situation of him being allowed to come back to Teesside.

"I believe that without me highlighting this and writing to the police, that he may have been allowed to come back."