THERE must come a point at which criminals who continue to re-offend give up their right ever to be freed. British-born paedophile Robert Excell should fall into that category.

Excell has spent 37 of the past 39 years in Australia's prison system for child sex offences dating back to 1965, when he raped a seven-year-old boy.

During that time, he has persistently shown he cannot be trusted with his freedom. He has been released on parole three times and committed another child sex crime on each occasion.

He raped a nine-year-old boy while on parole in 1973, and a 13-year-old boy when freed again in 1977. In 1981, he was once again freed on parole but was later convicted of indecent behaviour with a boy under 14.

Despite all of that, he has now been freed from jail and deported to Britain because of ill health.

While enjoying his freedom in this country, the Home Office has vowed that he will be subject to the highest level of supervision. But children's campaigners have, unsurprisingly, expressed fears that he may offend again.

Only last month, Western Australia Attorney-General Jim McGinty vowed Excell would never be allowed to live in the state on his release from prison.

So why on earth is it acceptable for this depraved, dangerous man to be released into British society?

Whatever Robert Excell's state of health, he should be behind bars for good.