Fugitive paedophile
Police have warned the public not to approach convicted paedophile David Chadwick, 58, who is on the run Dorset Police

The public have been warned not to approach a paedophile who is on the run after being recently released from prison and breaching his licence conditions. David Chadwick, 58, from Weymouth, Dorset was jailed in 2013 for committing sex offences against children.

He is believed to have taken a train from Weymouth to Moreton on Wednesday 10 February, then hitchhiked to Briantspuddle. Police believe he may be heading to Norwich .

Chadwick is white, of average build and around 5ft 10in tall, with short grey hair and a small scar on his left cheek. He was wearing a dark fleece-style jacket and glasses and was carrying an Ordnance Survey map when last seen Sky News reports. A member of the public unknowingly gave a lift to the wanted paedophile.

Detective Inspector Joe Williams said: "The search for David Chadwick is ongoing with officers following numerous lines of inquiries, including house-to-house checks and examination of CCTV. We now believe that Chadwick boarded a train at Wareham railway station on Wednesday afternoon and arrived in Brockenhurst, in Hampshire, at around 4.45pm.

"It is suspected that he may have then boarded a further train on Thursday with the intention of travelling to Norwich. Chadwick has a rucksack, sleeping bag and Ordnance Survey map with him and so it remains possible that he has been sleeping in outbuildings as he travels.

"We would like to reassure the public that police forces have been made aware of Chadwick's movements and that we are working together to ensure that he is found as soon as possible. There may be various reasons why David Chadwick has not complied with his licence conditions and I appeal to him directly to make contact with police at the earliest opportunity," he said.

"I would also like to thank the public for their response so far - the information passed on has greatly assisted the investigation."

Anyone who sees David Chadwick is advised not to approach him, as he presents a risk to the public, but should immediately contact Dorset Police on 999.