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| Caldey Island: Sex offender evaded justice at abbey | Caldey Island: Sex offender evaded justice at abbey |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fugitive child sex offender fled to a Pembrokeshire island's abbey to evade justice and remained there for seven years, it has been revealed. | A fugitive child sex offender fled to a Pembrokeshire island's abbey to evade justice and remained there for seven years, it has been revealed. |
| Paul Ashton, from Sussex, went on the run in 2004 charged with possessing indecent images of children. | Paul Ashton, from Sussex, went on the run in 2004 charged with possessing indecent images of children. |
| When he was discovered at Caldey Island in 2011, more indecent images were found on his computer in the monastery. | When he was discovered at Caldey Island in 2011, more indecent images were found on his computer in the monastery. |
| He was arrested and brought to justice after a visitor recognised him from a Crimestoppers "Most Wanted" list. | He was arrested and brought to justice after a visitor recognised him from a Crimestoppers "Most Wanted" list. |
| The revelation comes after it emerged six women have been paid compensation by Caldey Abbey after they were abused by a monk on Caldey Island in the 1970s and 1980s. | |
| Since that information came to light last week, a further five women have come forward accusing Father Thaddeus Kotik of abusing them. | Since that information came to light last week, a further five women have come forward accusing Father Thaddeus Kotik of abusing them. |
| Allegations were made to the abbey in 1990 but complaints were not passed on to police. | Allegations were made to the abbey in 1990 but complaints were not passed on to police. |
| Dyfed Powys Police was eventually made aware of the allegations in 2014 but could not investigate as Kotik died in 1992. | Dyfed Powys Police was eventually made aware of the allegations in 2014 but could not investigate as Kotik died in 1992. |
| The current abbot, Brother Daniel van Santvoort, has apologised the complaints were not referred to police sooner. | The current abbot, Brother Daniel van Santvoort, has apologised the complaints were not referred to police sooner. |
| Ashton is understood to have arrived on Caldey Island as a guest in 2004, but stayed and moved into the clock tower which overlooks the island. | Ashton is understood to have arrived on Caldey Island as a guest in 2004, but stayed and moved into the clock tower which overlooks the island. |
| He was provided with accommodation and food by the monks, who knew him by his alias Robert Judd. | He was provided with accommodation and food by the monks, who knew him by his alias Robert Judd. |
| A source said: "When Robert arrived he offered to help and made himself indispensable. | A source said: "When Robert arrived he offered to help and made himself indispensable. |
| "He operated the island's satellite internet and phone system, managed online accommodation bookings and the accounts and worked in the mail room. | "He operated the island's satellite internet and phone system, managed online accommodation bookings and the accounts and worked in the mail room. |
| "He put himself in an ideal position." | "He put himself in an ideal position." |
| Ashton had absconded from his home in Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex after Sussex Police executed a search warrant and confiscated computers in 2004. | Ashton had absconded from his home in Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex after Sussex Police executed a search warrant and confiscated computers in 2004. |
| In July 2011, an anonymous call was made to Crimestoppers by someone who had seen Ashton's face on its "Most Wanted" list, and he was arrested on the island. | In July 2011, an anonymous call was made to Crimestoppers by someone who had seen Ashton's face on its "Most Wanted" list, and he was arrested on the island. |
| Sussex Police said: "They recognised the picture as a man working in south Wales but under a different name… police were informed and local officers swiftly arrested him in relation to the Sussex inquiry. | Sussex Police said: "They recognised the picture as a man working in south Wales but under a different name… police were informed and local officers swiftly arrested him in relation to the Sussex inquiry. |
| "More computer equipment containing further images was also found." | "More computer equipment containing further images was also found." |
| Ashton, then aged 59, pleaded guilty at Chichester Crown Court to possessing more than 5,000 indecent images of children on his computers, hard drives and USB sticks. | Ashton, then aged 59, pleaded guilty at Chichester Crown Court to possessing more than 5,000 indecent images of children on his computers, hard drives and USB sticks. |
| He was jailed for 30 months in March 2012 and was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life. | He was jailed for 30 months in March 2012 and was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life. |
| Caldey Abbey has been asked to comment. | Caldey Abbey has been asked to comment. |