US: Most Wanted' paedophile arrested in UK for grooming teenager for sex

Kent: A paedophile who was on America's most wanted list was arrested for grooming a 13-year-old vulnerable teenaged girl for sex.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the accused identified as Gerard Zalewski, manipulated the teenager to send him indecent pictures of herself, and then arranged to meet her in a park in Bamber Bridge, Preston in Lancashire where he taped the girls mouth with masking tape, put a dog collar around her neck and scrawled the words ‘rape me’ on her leg. He then headed to take obscene photographs of the girl.

Zalewski, who was a resident in Dartford, Kent, pleaded guilty for penetrative sexual activity with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, taking indecent photographs of a child and false imprisonment.

He fled from the scene but was arrested in Kent on June 21 after a man-hunt. He was jailed for 12 years and given an 'extended indeterminate licence period'.

Zalewski was earlier charged for committing 'involuntary deviate sexual intercourse' with a 13-year-old girl in June 2004, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was wanted by the FBI for failing to appear at the sentencing hearing in March 2006.

In his absence he was convicted to serve five to 20 years in a state correctional institution after he pleaded guilty to these offences. But when he did not surrender to the custody, a warrant was issued against him.

Detective Chief Inspector Vicki Evans of Lancashire Constabulary's Public Protection Unit, who led the investigation of the Lancashire offences said: 'Gerard Zalewski is a dangerous and predatory sexual deviant who posed a significant risk to children across the country.'

'He groomed this vulnerable young teenager before arranging to meet her knowing that she was under 16. He then filmed her for his own gratification.'

'We welcome today's sentence which will mean the public, particularly children who are vulnerable, are protected from him for the foreseeable future.'

'This case highlights the risks and dangers faced by children with online grooming. 'It is important for parents, carers and guardians to talk to children about who they communicate with online, who their friends are, and how to manage these online relationships’