Villagers say they have been thwarted in their bid to get a court injunction which would protect children from a returning paedophile.

Child molester Rhys Hughes intends to move back to Sonning Common, where he assaulted a girl aged under five.

Parish councillors wanted to take out an injunction to prevent Hughes, 64, from going near four play areas in the village.

Hughes, who was sentenced to ten years in 1992 after a number of sexual offences against children, is to be released from prison in September.

After seeking advice from the Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils, Sonning Common Parish Council has decided it is unable to seek the injunction.

The council's finance officer, Paul Harrison, said: "We contacted the OALC and received the view that we were not legally entitled to seek the injunction,

"However, we want to get all the professional advice we can so that we can try to protect the children of the village, should Hughes return. If this guy does come back, then he can be assured that people will be keeping a very close eye on him."

Anxious parents contacted the parish council to ask them if there were any legal steps that could be taken to keep their children safe from Hughes when he was released.

The mother of Hughes's youngest victim, who has three young daughters, said the family was appalled to learn they are powerless to stop Hughes returning to the village when he caused so much damage.

The 1991 Criminal Justice Act gives the probation service control over where sex offenders live when they are released.

However, Hughes was jailed just months before the legislation came into force.

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