THE victim of an East Dorset paedophile is backing calls for a UK Megan's Law so parents are immediately told if a child sex offender is living in their midst.

Every day since her abuser was released from prison one local woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has seen him walking their neighbourhood. And as new children move into the area she feels anxious that their parents aren't told about the paedophile living nearby.

Her comments to the Daily Echo follow the conviction of Stuart Leggate, of the Charles Street Estate in Royston, Glasgow, for the murder of eight-year-old Mark Cummings. Leggate had three previous child sex convictions and was on the sex offenders' register, yet nobody warned his victim's mother of his history.

And this week national newspapers were using the tragedy to reinforce calls for Sarah's Law - in memory of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne - to inform parents if paedophiles live nearby.

The victim of one paedophile in East Dorset was just 10 years old when he abused her, she had to go through the trauma of giving evidence at court.

She told the Echo: "They should be named and shamed. Since it happened quite a few new families have come to the area and none of them have a clue who he is.

"He should never have been allowed to move back in. His picture should be printed in the paper and people should be told about him when they move to the area.

"What use is a sex offenders register - I've never seen one in my life, it's only of use to the police and Social Services, not the people who see these offenders day in day out. I don't think there would be vigilante action if everything was out in the open but people would know to steer clear of him.

"Some people fear houses would be devalued if they're living next to a paedophile but it's more important for children to be safe than property values maintained.

"I don't think he has any idea what I've been through because of him because I've held my head up high, but it has affected my whole life - I can't remember any happy times. If he had any decency he would have moved away."

First published: October 27