A front-page story in the Southern Daily Echo led to an investigation that has sent a man to prison for four years for two indecent assaults on a five-year-old girl.

The article led police to their suspect and as a result, Levi Thomas (66), formerly of Hyde Street, Hyde, pleaded guilty to the charges.

Police launched an investigation after the front page article appeared in March 1999.

It told of a suspected child abuser spotted near the gates of a local school.

The story reported that the school had sent out warning letters, alerting parents to the possible danger to their children.

The man had been seen several times, staring at children playing at the primary school. And on one occasion he ran off after being challenged by a teacher.

But the letter had not reached the police before the Daily Echo story appeared – and it enabled officers to quickly trace the man before the trail went cold.

The offences took place in August last year but were not connected with the school.

Det Insp Mike Dodds said: “It would be fair to say that, as a result of that article, it increased our awareness of this particular individual, and later about the offences for which he was convicted. The Daily Echo article definitely helped us.”

Thomas had a record of serial sex abuse but, because the last offence was several years ago, he was not on the sex offenders’ register.

School head Judy Hamilton said: “It’s good news that he is now gone. I’m glad we acted as we did at the time to alert parents. It caused the parents distress, but it was the right thing to do in the circumstances.”

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