A MISSING sex offender is known to have visited Dartford, according to Kent Police.

Officers are appealing for the public to help them trace 62-year-old John Archer Barnett – also known as John Owen – who was last seen on April 14 in Dover.

Barnett is a known sex offender who was jailed for four years in 2003 for indecent assault on an eight-year-old boy.

Kent Police consider him to pose a risk to children and say he may befriend a family in order to offend.

Officers involved in the management of Barnett became concerned he was becoming too close to a family with children and when social services intervened, he fled.

He has since failed to notify police of his new address and is now wanted for breach of the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Police describe Barnett as about 5 foot 8 inches tall, with a beer belly, grey receding hair and a beard.

He has eagle tattoos on both arms and one side of his face droops very slightly, following a stroke.

Barnett may also be wearing a hearing aid, is a smoker and drinks whisky and has an eczema type skin condition which is visible on both forearms and hands.

It is possible he may have shaved his head and shaved off his beard to disguise his appearance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Ren Johnson or Jodie Strickett on 01227 868049, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.