Just been told by my neighbour that a convicted paedophile has moved into the block of flats at the end of our close

[unaccomplishedfattylegalmummy]

I don't really speak to her (not because I don't like her, just we've recently moved in and never really got round to it), but she made an effort to come over and speak to me (she lives over the road), I don't know where she got the information, but I thanked her for telling me. She has told all the mums in the close and she is going to get a petition on the go. She doesn't know his name, what he looks like or even what flat he lives in.

She just said I should keep an eye out for anyone I didn't recognise hanging around the close. (Recognise everyone who lives here, as it's a small close). We live in a new build close so all the gardens have low fences so it's very easy to see in each others' gardens. The fences come up to about bust level. The close is actually the back of all the houses and theres a carpark/road where all the kids play out together. I don't let mine play out yet as they're too young, but I wanted to as they got older.

I don't know how to feel, a part of me is thinking gossip, take it with a pinch of salt. But the other part is thinking what if she's right? It's really put a dampner on the house as I love it. I'm also in 2 minds now whether to get the paddling pool out and let them run about semi naked in the hot weather.

God I hate these sick bastards why can't they all just fuck off and die somewhere alone so we can relax and let are kids play. Jeez I feel so fucking angry.

Message withdrawn

I think there's a lot of sensible advice here, but sorry, Dilemma456, giving paedophiles a second chance is not sensible advice at all. Past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour and if a paedophile moves into a family, a child protection investigation is initiated and usually the paedophile or the children have to move out -that's how seriously it's taken.

Lay off the OP - she's not suggesting embarking on vigilanteism. She just loves her kids and wants to know the best way to keep them safe.

no place on any street for paedophiles IMO.

No 2nd chances, nothing.

OP right to be concerned and to ask for advice on here. Often it is pure speculation or gossip, but all we can do is continue to protect our children as much as possible, without taking away their freedom. Not easy though.

Message withdrawn

The whole thing sounds weird.

where did your neighbor get her information from? The only people who would know where a convicted paedophile would be living would be the parole officer and the police.

If so, then the leak came from them?

But would it matter whether the guy down the road is a paedophile or not? I mean, I wouldn't want my kids to be alone with a man they don't know without supervision anyway.

Take sensible precautions, the same you would anyway. But don't get over anxious about it.

your kids are twenty thousand times more likely to die from obesity than at the hands of a paedophile. A kid in the UK dies every ten days from a fire in their own home. It's hard to put it in perspective, but really, your kids have a very low risk. Don't let nasty rumours stop you letting your kids enjoy the sunshine and the great outdoors.

dilemma456, I'm very sorry to hear about what happened to you, but for me it's about risk. There's no 'cure' for paedophilia, so caution is always required. Some paedophiles may never reoffend, but sadly it's impossible to tell. I've spent too much time with children who were victims of men their mothers thought needed a second chance. I suspect that any paedophile who genuinely didn't want to reoffend would continue any work they had begun and avoid children and anything child related...

Still, that's not what this thread is about and I agree with a lot of the advice here-be sensible but not paranoid and teach your children about safety.

Just wanted to update, I contacted the local police and they looked into it. They said there isn't a convicted sex offender registered in my area. However, there could be a chance that one may have moved without telling them and if so they could be arrested. He asked me if I find out anymore information like which flat he's supposed to live to contact them again and they will investigate.

So while there's still a chance there is one, it's not one the police are aware of, and more and likely is a rumour.

Thanks for everyones' replies, I was a bit panic stricken when I first found out. I'm a bit calmer now and I know I just need to keep that extra eye on them.

it's more than likely

They house them near schools for therapy so get your facts right

I'd tell them too f off aswell I live under a peadophile how do I know he's on the sex offenders register iff your told don't take it lightly because weather he is or isn't is not worth putting your kids at risk and I can't believe someone on here said so wat iff you have a peadophile on the street so wat they should all b behind bars they destroy people's life forever but I'd find out first a bit more ok and iff he is one get that petition going and get him out they make my skin crawl

A good friend of mine and DP is technically on the SO register and has served time. He had sex with someone who turned out to be 15 (he was 20) and shopped him to the police years later. I've even had someone I know warn me that he's a paedophile and to not let him near my daughter, which is completely twisted from the truth. Be careful who you believe information from, particularly if they are very vague such as in this scenario.