An anti-paedophile demonstration in Marrakesh in 2013. (Getty)
An anti-paedophile demonstration in Marrakesh in 2013.

A Spanish paedophile was stoned by a furious mob after being caught abusing a child in Marrakesh.

Moroccan police patrolling the Chetoui district in the city reportedly found people hurling stones at the man, before stepping in to save him from the crowd.

Under questioning, the tourist initially denied raping the child, but subsequently confessed to sexual assault.

Recently, there has been a surge in child abuse cases in Morocco.

Critics say that sentences handed down to paedophiles are too light, and fail to act as a deterrence.

On July 17, a 57-year-old man was sentenced to two years in jail after he was caught sexually abusing a 10 year-old boy.

Najia Adib, President of the Moroccan anti-paedophile group Don't Touch My Child condemned the senetence as too lenient.

Under Moroccan law, paedophiles can be sentenced to up to 30 years in jail.

Last year, riots were sparked when the King of Morocco pardoned a paedophile who had been sentenced to 10 years in jail for sexually abusing 11 children.

The pardon was subsequently revoked, and Galvan was re-arrested in Spain, where he is serving a 30 year sentence.