POLICE are hunting an escaped paedophile who could be at large in Dorset.

John McCormack, 23, is deemed so dangerous he was recently banned from having contact with any child. He has been on the run from a Surrey clinic for a week and police believe he could be in the Bournemouth area.

McCormack's case made legal history in September when police were granted a prohibition order preventing him from befriending or living with any child under 16 for the next five years.

In 1998, he was jailed for three years for indecently assaulting a boy in Northamp-tonshire. He was released on licence in January this year, but broke the terms of his licence within a month by trying to befriend a nine-year-old boy.

He was sentenced to another six months in prison but continued to try to contact the boy from jail. It was then that Northampton magistrates took the unprecedented step of granting police a civil order preventing McCormack from associating with children.

Surrey Police said McCormack had been undergoing treatment at a clinic there but had left without permission.

"He had been released from prison on licence and was attending the clinic as a condition of this licence," a statement said. "He is now in breach of his prison licence and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. He is believed to be in the Bournemouth or Northampton area."

McCormack is white, about 5ft 11in tall and of slim build. He has short, light brown hair and was last seen wearing jeans, a black T-shirt, brown shoes and a grey Puffa-type jacket.

Anyone with any information which could help trace McCormack should ring Northampton Police on 01604 700700 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.