Missing sex offender has visited Brighton

A missing sex offender has been to Brighton since he disappeared four months ago.

Police are urging the public to look out for John Archer Barnett, 62, also known as John Owen.

He was last seen by his landlord in Dover on Saturday 14 April and is thought to be travelling around the country, Kent Police said.

Barnett, a registered sex offender, left the Dover area after social services intervened when he became close to a family with children.

He has visited Brighton, London, Blackpool, Scarborough, Dartford and Bournemouth, police said.

Kent Police said: “Barnett is considered to pose a risk to children and may befriend a family in order to offend.”

The force said that Barnett was convicted in 2003 of indecently assaulting an eight-year-old boy and jailed for four years.

He was described as white, about 5ft 8in tall with grey receding hair and a beard which he may have shaved off to disguise his appearance.

He has eagle tattoos on both arms and may be wearing a hearing aid.

He also has an eczema-type skin condition visible on his forearms and hands, police said, and one side of his face droops following a stroke.