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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Police hunt missing sex offender | Police hunt missing sex offender |
| (2 days later) | |
| A sex offender and fraudster from East Lothian is being hunted by police in the West Midlands after walking out of his probation hostel. | A sex offender and fraudster from East Lothian is being hunted by police in the West Midlands after walking out of his probation hostel. |
| John Cronin, 37, was jailed for six years in 1992 for a sex attack against a Conservative party activist who became known as Judy X. | John Cronin, 37, was jailed for six years in 1992 for a sex attack against a Conservative party activist who became known as Judy X. |
| Since his early release in 1996 he has been jailed on several occasions for crimes such as fraud and armed robbery. | Since his early release in 1996 he has been jailed on several occasions for crimes such as fraud and armed robbery. |
| Police described him as a conman who could prey on vulnerable people. | Police described him as a conman who could prey on vulnerable people. |
| Scottish police forces have been contacted by their West Midlands colleagues and asked to help in the search for Cronin, who was last seen on 8 February. | Scottish police forces have been contacted by their West Midlands colleagues and asked to help in the search for Cronin, who was last seen on 8 February. |
| He had been released on licence from Stafford Prison for a fraud offence on 5 January. | He had been released on licence from Stafford Prison for a fraud offence on 5 January. |
| 'Deception and fraud' | 'Deception and fraud' |
| Cronin is described as being an "intelligent and articulate" man, 5ft 11ins tall, of heavy build with light brown hair. | Cronin is described as being an "intelligent and articulate" man, 5ft 11ins tall, of heavy build with light brown hair. |
| He was last seen wearing a black, knee-length coat, a white shirt with blue stripes, a green and white scarf and blue jeans. He was carrying a black holdall. | He was last seen wearing a black, knee-length coat, a white shirt with blue stripes, a green and white scarf and blue jeans. He was carrying a black holdall. |
| Cronin was the subject of stringent daily conditions under the most robust level of MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) led by West Midlands Probation Service and the police. | Cronin was the subject of stringent daily conditions under the most robust level of MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) led by West Midlands Probation Service and the police. |
| Heather McCamley, of West Midlands Police, said: "Since 1992 his offending has been contained to deception and fraud matters where he targets vulnerable and elderly people with a view to stealing money." | Heather McCamley, of West Midlands Police, said: "Since 1992 his offending has been contained to deception and fraud matters where he targets vulnerable and elderly people with a view to stealing money." |
| Cronin, originally from Tranent, East Lothian, is not on the sex offenders register because it had not been established at the time of his conviction for the sexual assault on Judy X. | Cronin, originally from Tranent, East Lothian, is not on the sex offenders register because it had not been established at the time of his conviction for the sexual assault on Judy X. |
| Police said he has connections in north-east England, Scotland, Ireland and continental Europe. | Police said he has connections in north-east England, Scotland, Ireland and continental Europe. |
| Restaurant bills | Restaurant bills |
| Cronin was originally jailed for life for the violent sex attack on Judy X in her Edinburgh flat in 1992, but his jail term was reduced to six years on appeal. | |
| Dressed as a priest, he beat the woman with a poker before sexually assaulting her. | Dressed as a priest, he beat the woman with a poker before sexually assaulting her. |
| Judy X stood up at the Conservative Party Conference and condemned the justice system in a speech following the decision to reduce Cronin's sentence. | Judy X stood up at the Conservative Party Conference and condemned the justice system in a speech following the decision to reduce Cronin's sentence. |
| After his release in 1996, Cronin fled to Ireland and has since been convicted of a string of offences, which he often committed while disguised as a priest or businessman. | After his release in 1996, Cronin fled to Ireland and has since been convicted of a string of offences, which he often committed while disguised as a priest or businessman. |
| He also stalked female Irish politicians after organising a series of meetings with them. | He also stalked female Irish politicians after organising a series of meetings with them. |
| In 2007, Cronin was jailed in Sweden for admitting running up huge hotel and restaurant bills then telling staff he had no money. | In 2007, Cronin was jailed in Sweden for admitting running up huge hotel and restaurant bills then telling staff he had no money. |