Naming isn't an answer

And he strongly criticised calls for families to be given details of sex offenders who are moved into their neighbourhood.

But although they are closely monitored, he stressed that it was impossible to guarantee that offenders would not strike again.

Mr Smith assistant chief officer at Wiltshire Probation Service was responding to the outcry caused by the Taylor case.

Parents living near the 44-year-old pervert's home in Stubsmead, Eldene, were horrified when they found out about his past.

Despite being jailed twice for abusing boys, he was allowed to live near families in Swindon and went on to abuse more children.

He could now be jailed for life after being found guilty of subjecting two teenage boys to a reign of terror.

Mr Smith wasn't able to comment directly on the Taylor case, but he answered concerns raised by the community.

"I think the system we have in place is extremely successful, and it works in the vast majority of cases," he said.

"Last year for example, of the dozen or so high risk offenders living in Wiltshire, none re-offended.

"We are in the business of managing risk, and of course it is very worrying when an offender commits a further offence.

"However, if they are in the community it is impossible to guarantee that they won't re-offend.

"If they are really determined to re-offend then they will.

"But the only alternative is to lock them up for good."

In yesterday's Adver, we spoke to the mother of Sarah Payne the eight-year-old girl murdered by a convicted sex attacker who had been released from jail.

Sara Payne has been campaigning for the Sex Offenders Register to be made public.

A so-called Sarah's Law would mean parents could find out if a paedophile was living nearby.

Mr Smith believes this would simply drive offenders underground.

"Sometimes we do disclose details to individuals who may be at particular risk," he said.

"But I am totally against general disclosure.

"I do understand public concerns, but this would lead to vigilante action and drive offenders underground.

"They would then be a greater risk to society because we couldn't carry out a management plan."

Last year, Wiltshire was the only area to see a fall in the number of sex offenders being tracked.

There are currently 234 convicted sex attackers in the county one for every 2,600 people.

When released from jail, offenders are monitored by MAPPA the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrange-ments group, which is made up of police, probation officers and other statutory bodies.

A risk assessment is drawn up which looks at the pattern of offending.

Taylor, for example, groomed his victims, while others strike at random.

Although they cannot be cured, sex offenders can be treated, and they must attend a programme designed to control their sexual urges.

The emphasis is on making them aware of the effect their behaviour has on the victim.

Offenders are monitored by the police and can be banned from visiting places which attract children, like parks and swimming pools.

In some cases they can even be banned from talking to children.

Probation officers also carry out random visits.

The problem is that offenders are only monitored for a specified length of time.

However, they must also sign the Sex Offenders Registers, which means police can always keep track of them.

Taylor wasn't on the register because his offences were committed before it was introduced in 1997.

Cases that have sparked concern

THE CASE of Craig Taylor is not the first to spark concerns in the community about child abusers.

Back in 1996, the Adver reported the worrying case of pensioner Eric Green.

The 71-year-old was found guilty of indecently assaulting a young girl.

But the family of the seven-year-old watched in horror as a legal loophole meant he walked free from court. He was allowed back to his flat in sheltered accommodation just yards from a primary school in Toothill.

Doctors argued that Green, of Salzgitter Court, Affleck Close, had a mental health problem but should not be sent to a secure hospital.

A judge had no choice but to released him on a two year supervision order and the girl's family were devastated.

Her mother said: "I just can't tell my daughter he's at large in the community.

"We assured her he would be punished."

At the time of his trial, there was also anger about a convicted paedophile living in Highworth.

There was chorus of anger after a nine-year-old sex abuse victim bumped into his attacker in the street the day after he was given a prison sentence.

Albert Hams, of Rivers Way, Highworth, admitted assaulting the lad, and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Hams was freed early because he had spent 10 months on remand the length of time he would have served with remission for good behaviour.

He returned to his Highworth bungalow, which overlooked school playing fields.

The distraught boy ran home in tears after spotting Hams in the street. After the incident, residents banded together and wrote to the then Prime Minister John Major calling for a national registers of sex offenders.

In the same year, it was revealed that Swindon man John Roberts who was convicted of molesting two boys had a long history of sex attacks on children.

At the time of the latest offences he was on home leave from prison.

At the time of the latest offences he was on leave from prison at his home in Astbury Road, Peckham.

During his trial, it emerged he had been jailed eight times for attacks on children over 40 years.

More recently, the Adver reported the heartrending case of Leanne White.

The 29-year-old, from Stratton, took her own life by jumping off the Brunel Centre car park two years ago because she feared the paedophile who stole her childhood was about to be freed from jail.

Sex monster George Davison now 65 preyed on Swindon girls for more than two decades.

He was jailed for 15 years for rape and indecent assault.

Davison, formerly of Newmeadow Copse, Peatmoor, repeatedly raped one of his victims between the ages of 11 and 15.

He indecently assaulted 12 others girls during a 25 reign of abuse.

In 2002, we reported how residents in Rodbourne were up in arms at news that paedophile Tony Adams was about to return to the community.

The former youth club leader was jailed for six years in 1998 for abusing two boys, but was granted early release. Leaflets were posted through letterboxes near his home warning parents of the danger.

Tamash Lal