A PAEDOPHILE attempted to befriend children on a North-East estate by buying them sweets and drinks, police revealed last night.

The Northern Echo reported yesterday how Graeme McLeod, 48, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, walked free from the Old Bailey on Thursday.

He admitted more than 100 offences of possession and distribution of child pornography, along with two other men.

Detective Inspector Keith Tilley, of Hertfordshire Police's child protection unit, who led the investigation into McLeod, described his actions as "classic paedophile behaviour".

McLeod bought a house in the Wilton Lane area of Guisborough, near Northgate Junior School, and quickly set about making friends with local children.

As well as buying them sweets and drinks, he bought one boy an expensive birthday present - much to the alarm of his parents.

"This was the very very early stages of activity by him, and we are not really sure what he was aiming to do, apart from gain the trust of parents and access to children," said Det Insp Tilley.

He stressed that there was no evidence McLeod had infiltrated organised youth groups or had abused children in the Guisborough area.

Dave McLuckie, lead member for community safety on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said he had been assured by Cleveland Police that he would be informed if McLeod - who is living in a hostel in the Bedford area and intends to move to Brighton - ever returns to Teesside.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police, said: "As far as we are aware, McLeod has severed all links with the area.

"Should, however, he return, we will deal with it accordingly and constantly monitor him."

McLeod and co-defendants David Griffiths, 47, from Chester, and Geoffrey Foulds, 63, from Newark, walked free after being sentenced to community rehabilitation orders of between 18 months and two years.

Judge Simon Coltart told them that, while each represented a risk to children, it was unlikely that prison would help reduce that risk.

The court was told the men were leaders of a ring which swapped porn magazines, photographs and videos featuring boys as young as nine.