Australia to deport UK paedophile
Excell will be put on the sex offenders' register in the UK
A British-born paedophile who has spent 37 years in jail in Australia for sex attacks is to be deported to the UK.
Robert Excell, who attacked four boys, would be sent to the UK "within days", officials in Western Australia said.
Excell, 66, who emigrated to Australia aged 10 but never became a citizen, is being freed because of his poor health, age and support from his wife.
Psychologists say he poses a "moderate" risk of reoffending. He will put on the UK sex offenders' register.
Excell had been expected back in the UK as early as Thursday, but his departure was delayed as Australian immigration officials said they would investigate his case.
'Reoffending risk'
Excell's convictions date back to 1965, when he was jailed for an attack on a seven-year-old boy.
He cannot be released into the West Australian community and will not pose a threat to the West Australian community
Western Australia attorney general Jim McGinty
Since then he has been paroled three times and reoffended on all three occasions.
Three years ago the state government in Western Australia intervened after a parole board decided to let Excell walk free.
It said he was such a danger he should stay in prison indefinitely.
But he will be now released from prison in Perth before being put on a flight to the UK.
'Visa cancelled'
Western Australia attorney general Jim McGinty told ABC radio he was not prepared to allow Excell to walk free there.
It's clear as night follows day as long as this individual's got blood running through his veins he poses a danger
Norman Brennan
Victims of Crime Trust
"He's had his visa cancelled. He is not an Australian citizen," said Mr McGinty.
"He came to Australia many, many years ago and then very seriously abused the privilege of residency here by committing the serious crimes that he did."
The British Home Office would not comment directly on the case of Excell but said protecting children was "of the highest priority" to the government.
A spokeswoman said sex offenders deported to the UK are interviewed by Special Branch who "pass any relevant information to the police in the area to which the offender is proposing to live".
However, Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, called on the Australian authorities to reconsider their decision to release Excell.
"This individual poses a maximum danger to children and has committed crime after crime after crime of the worst degrading types of paedophilia," he said.