A CONVICTED paedophile is to be moved after nearly 1,000 people signed a petition demanding he leave their community.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is living with a relative in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Although he has completed a jail sentence for indecent assault on a child, he is no longer on the Sex Offenders Register.

Nevertheless, when neighbours learned about his background, they began a campaign to have him moved, prompting talks between the police, social services and the local housing authority.

"We heard a few rumblings about this before the petition started," said city and borough councillor, Stuart Martin.

"When about 1,000 people had signed, it was handed to us to pass on the Harrogate Borough Council but cabinet member, Philip Broadbank, agreed to come to Ripon to meet local people and listen to what they had to say."

Councillor Martin said: "This sort of thing is always emotive and I can understand the concern as this individual was living near a playground and not far from a local junior school.

"I appreciate people convicted of this sort of offence sometimes deserve a chance of rehabilitation and a fresh start but this seemed a bit like putting a thief back to work in a jewellery shop.

"With the events in Cambridgeshire over the past fortnight, feelings are running high and perhaps people are feeling more sensitive over risks to their children at the moment than they would normally."

As the man was living with family and not in local authority housing, Harrogate Borough Council had no power to move him. But after talks with the individual, the authority has confirmed he will be re-housed at his own request.

A statement issued by the council said, after talks with police and probation workers, relocation was seen as "in the interests of all concerned".

The authority said it will continue to work with other agencies to ensure the man has access to the help and support he needs to continue his rehabilitation.