A YORK police chief today reassured residents following the release from jail of one of Britain's most dangerous paedophiles.

Stephen Carruthers, 43, who has convictions against him for child sex offences in York in 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1991, was freed at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday.

He had been ordered to serve four life sentences two years ago after being found guilty of raping and abusing two boys.

But, following a ruling by the Court of Appeal, he faced a retrial, at which he was acquitted of two charges of false imprisonment and two allegations of raping the boys.

Residents in the Fossway area of York raised a petition against Carruthers in 1987 after suspecting him of child abuse, and after he moved to Wenlock Terrace he was beaten up by three men who alleged he had interfered with children.

One Fossway resident, who asked not to be named, told the Evening Press yesterday: "When I heard he had been freed my first thought was 'I hope he doesn't come back to York'."

Superintendent Javad Ali, police operations commander for York and Selby, said residents of the city had no need to worry.

He said: "There is nothing to indicate that he has any intention of coming back to York, but, obviously, if he were to move, we are in touch with Greater Manchester Police, who would let us know so we could take appropriate action. I can assure members of the public we will do that."

Updated: 10:50 Monday, April 14, 2003