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| Calls to ban hostel paedophiles | Calls to ban hostel paedophiles |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Campaigners are calling for paedophiles to be banned from a bail hostel near their homes after two girls were targeted for grooming by a rapist. | Campaigners are calling for paedophiles to be banned from a bail hostel near their homes after two girls were targeted for grooming by a rapist. |
| Residents on a Plas Madoc estate, near Wrexham, said Plas y Wern hostel was too close to a school to house sex offenders. | Residents on a Plas Madoc estate, near Wrexham, said Plas y Wern hostel was too close to a school to house sex offenders. |
| Patrick Brendon Smith, 44, has admitted two charges of attempting to facilitate sexual activity with a child. | Patrick Brendon Smith, 44, has admitted two charges of attempting to facilitate sexual activity with a child. |
| He had previously been jailed for raping a girl, and other offences. | He had previously been jailed for raping a girl, and other offences. |
| Joan Hopwood was one of the original protesters who waged a campaign against Plas y Wern for four years. | Joan Hopwood was one of the original protesters who waged a campaign against Plas y Wern for four years. |
| She said Smith's court case had been the final act of a "disaster waiting to happen". | She said Smith's court case had been the final act of a "disaster waiting to happen". |
| These people are dangerous to children and should not be there Joan Hopwood | These people are dangerous to children and should not be there Joan Hopwood |
| She added: "I would like to see all paedophiles and sex offenders removed from the hostel. | She added: "I would like to see all paedophiles and sex offenders removed from the hostel. |
| "I don't mind young offenders, but it is too dangerous to house sex offenders and paedophiles so close to a school and homes. | "I don't mind young offenders, but it is too dangerous to house sex offenders and paedophiles so close to a school and homes. |
| "These people are dangerous to children and should not be there." | "These people are dangerous to children and should not be there." |
| Wrexham councillor Paul Blackwell, whose ward neighbours Plas y Wern, said paedophiles should be housed in a more secure area. | Wrexham councillor Paul Blackwell, whose ward neighbours Plas y Wern, said paedophiles should be housed in a more secure area. |
| He added: "My stance has always been that paedophiles should not be housed at this hostel, especially as it's so close to schools and and homes where children live. | He added: "My stance has always been that paedophiles should not be housed at this hostel, especially as it's so close to schools and and homes where children live. |
| Residents on the Plas Madoc estate have protested against the hostel in the past | |
| "I'm not saying the hostel should be closed, but paedophiles should be removed and put in a more secure area where there are no schools or homes nearby." | "I'm not saying the hostel should be closed, but paedophiles should be removed and put in a more secure area where there are no schools or homes nearby." |
| Caernarfon Crown Court heard Smith was previously given a 12-year sentence in Ireland for raping a young girl, and other offences. | Caernarfon Crown Court heard Smith was previously given a 12-year sentence in Ireland for raping a young girl, and other offences. |
| Smith, also known as Reilly, will be sentenced later and could face an indeterminate jail term. | Smith, also known as Reilly, will be sentenced later and could face an indeterminate jail term. |
| Probation officials have expressed "sympathy" to the two schoolgirls who were targeted by him. | Probation officials have expressed "sympathy" to the two schoolgirls who were targeted by him. |
| In 2005, the Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones called for assurances that the bail hostel would not become a "dumping ground" for convicted paedophiles. | In 2005, the Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones called for assurances that the bail hostel would not become a "dumping ground" for convicted paedophiles. |