Missing sex offender recaptured on holiday isle

James Woodward,Press Association
Wednesday 12 August 2009 08:29 BST

A "high risk" sex offender who went on the run after buying a train ticket to a mystery destination has been arrested on a holiday island, police said today.

Dean Goodwin, 29, who sexually abused both women and children, absconded from his west country hostel at the weekend, leading police to warn the public he was "potentially dangerous".

Last night, Goodwin, originally from Dorset, was arrested on the Isle of Wight and held by Hampshire police. He will now be sent back to prison for breach of licence.

The alert was issued after Goodwin failed to check in at the hostel in Bridgwater, Somerset on Friday. He was later spotted at Bristol Temple Meads train station buying a train ticket to an "unknown destination."

A spokesman for the Avon and Somerset force said today: "Dean Goodwin, who absconded from a bail hostel in the Bridgwater on Friday has been arrested.

"The 29-year-old registered sex offender was this evening detained in the Isle of Wight by police.

"After leaving Bridgwater on Friday and taking a taxi to Bristol, he was spotted buying a ticket at Temple Meads station but was (last night) arrested by police on the south coast island."

At the time of his disappearance members of the public were asked to remain "vigilant" and not approach Goodwin if they saw him.

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