A sex offender who prowled around an Eltham playground "hugging" children was jailed for two years for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard 61-year-old Ernest Blackwell say he was only being friendly when he hugged children at the Avery Hill Park playground in July.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was playing with two friends in the playground when they were approached by Blackwell who struck up a conversation with them.

The waiter, who had previous convictions for sex offences, then began to hug the children. One girl was touched on the breast and Blackwell offered to give them five pounds if they came back the following day.

The court heard after the children had returned home and told their parents and police, Greenwich officers arrested him at his home in Northfleet, Kent.

Blackwell denied the assault, saying he was only being friendly when he cuddled the children.

He was sentenced to two years in jail.

He will spend three years on licence following his release and a further 10 years on the sex offenders' register.

A police spokesman explained officers keep checks on paedophiles released back into the community.

He said: "When a sex offender is released, they have 14 days to register with the police and in the meantime a sex offender panel made up of social services and police sits to assess whether they are a high or low risk offender.

"If they are a high-risk offender, there are frequent visits to the paedophile's home to check they are where they are meant to be. Even a low-risk offender will have regular checks."

December 19, 2001 10:30