Convicted sex offender David Payne, who preyed on young girls when he was a children's entertainer in North Wiltshire, fled his Weymouth home yesterday after neighbours launched a campaign to force him out of the town.

Payne, originally from Burton near Chippenham, was jailed for 12 years for a string of sex offences on girls as young as four and was released from prison in spring 2008.

It is thought the 64-year-old former children's entertainer moved to Dorset soon after he was let out of jail, and was placed in a Bournemouth hostel.

But he was seen fleeing the town yesterday as anger mounted about him being allowed to move to a town centre flat.

Worried parents launched a campaign to force the father-of-two out of the town after it was reported that he is deemed such a danger he is banned from going near beaches.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "Public safety is always our priority.

"David Payne is on the sex offenders register and is subject to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

"Led by the police, probation and prison services, these arrangements are a proven way to manage offenders and complex cases through multi-agency co-operation.

"Information is shared between agencies, disclosed to other parties where relevant and risk assessments and action plans are agreed."

Payne, who advertised his party magic shows in Swindon Yellow Pages, was found guilty three years ago of raping a nine-year-old and indecently assaulting two others. He also admitted 15 similar crimes involving a total of six girls over a five-year period.

When he was sentencing Payne, Judge John McNaught told Payne he had a personality that was attractive to children and allowed their parents to trust him.

A parent of one of the victims said Payne had abused every trust he ever had.

The Probation Service said Payne had been adequately risk-assessed and monitored and had not breached any conditions.

The spokesman said: “Public protection is our first priority and we have robust mechanisms to manage sex offenders effectively if they are living in the community.

“Sex offenders who are released from prison on licence will be monitored and supervised by the Probation Service in the community and can be recalled to custody if they breach their licence conditions. “Through MAPPA, agencies strive to minimise the risk posed by offenders through continuous assessment and management.”