A CONSETT paedophile exposed himself to a terrified young girl just days after he was freed by the Court of Appeal.

Michael Croney, 35, had his four-year jail term cut to a three-year community rehabilitation order, despite warnings that he posed a high risk to children.

And just three days later he exposed himself to a 12-year-old girl who was waiting at a bus stop in Gateshead with her 13-year-old friend.

The youngster ran to a nearby friend's home and the father of the household was able to note Croney's car registration number after seeing him disappear down an alleyway. He was arrested but denied the offence.

The girl was then forced to pick him out of an identity parade and give evidence against him in court before he finally pleaded guilty to indecency towards a child.

Croney, of Deneside, Medomsley, was given a four-year jail sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday.

Judge Richard Lowden said the Court of Appeal had been wrong to revoke a four-year term the 35-year-old received after exposing himself to youngsters in Guildford, Surrey. Judge Lowden said he was confident that if Croney received a short sentence he would "no doubt commit the same offences immediately again."

He was sentenced at the Old Bailey on September 28 last year after pleading guilty to five charges of indecency towards children, one of indecent exposure and one of threatening or insulting behaviour but was freed in February following an appeal.

Law lords decided the jail term was excessive in the light of his admissions to the police.

The appeal judges were swayed by a public protection unit report that said, although he posed a 'high risk of re-offending in a similar way' and was a 'high risk of harm to the public' probation officers were confident he could be 'safely managed.'

But Judge Lowden said: "Sadly, that did not prove to be so and in the light of your re-offending there can be no question of going down that sort of course again.

"Reports indicate that you will re-offend quickly following your release from prison. In my view the public can only be protected at the present time by a longer sentence. The purpose of my sentence is to protect the public."

Croney, who has been married twice, will be registered as a sex offender for life.