Kayak escape paedophile is jailed

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A paedophile who fled British justice by kayaking across the English Channel from Jersey to France has been jailed.

Gerard Hayslop, 27, from Burnley, skipped bail after his conviction for making indecent images of children.

He failed to appear for sentencing at Burnley Crown Court and fled to Jersey with his pregnant girlfriend, before paddling to France in a blow-up kayak.

He was jailed for 20 months at Preston Crown Court following his extradition from Paris.

It was an act of complete and utter irresponsibility taking your young girlfriend with you while she was pregnant Judge Christopher Cornwall

The court heard how Hayslop, of Harold Street, Burnley, had lived a "hand-to-mouth existence" while on the run in France before being arrested in Paris for offences relating to prostitution.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail in France but was released in August this year and extradited to the UK.

Hayslop was sentenced for the bail offence and 20 counts of making indecent images of children which he had admitted in April 2007.

The court heard that he had downloaded 54 images of child abuse, two of which were classed as level five - the most serious offences.

Children ban

Judge Christopher Cornwall, sentencing, said: "It is apparent that you travelled to Jersey some time at the end of July and from Jersey you made your way to France by way of an inflatable kayak.

"It was an act of complete and utter irresponsibility taking your young girlfriend with you while she was pregnant.

"In France you lived from hand-to-mouth and from the proceeds of your and her prostitution.

"These are not computer images, they are actual children, and every single one of them in one sense or another has been abused.

"Those who download this material simply cause this dreadful activity to continue."

In addition to his jail term, Hayslop was banned from working with children indefinitely was subject to a sexual offences prevention order.

The order prevents him from contacting children under the age of 16 without adult supervision and restricts his use of the internet.