A notorious sex offender dubbed 'the Canterbury Cannibal' is back behind bars just days after it was revealed he had arrived in a small American town in an attempt to start a new life.

Former nurse Dale Bolinger, 62, who used to live in Davidson Road, Canterbury, was convicted in 2014 of plotting to rape, decapitate and eat a 14-year-old girl.

The American-born father-of-two even bought an axe the day before he was due to meet the teenager, who he groomed online, at Ashford International station - but she did not show.

He was later found to have a stash of some of the sickest child pseudo-images, depicting youngsters in an oven or being barbecued.

He was jailed for nine years in September 2014 but has been released early and tried to set up home in the small backwater of Blair, Nebraska.

However, today it was confirmed his name was on the Washington County Jail population list - although police say he has not been charged and it is unclear as to why he is there.

Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said: "He’s here, but I cannot tell you why. Legally, I cannot say anything."

In a statement to local news outlets, county attorney Scott Vander Schaaf added: "The sheriff and I have been closely involved with the Bolinger situation.

"We want to inform the citizens of Washington County that law enforcement and the county attorney’s office know the location of Mr Bolinger and you can rest assured that he not a threat to the community at this time."

Bolinger, who used to work at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, moved back to the USA after his release and registered as a sex offender.

But his neighbours in Blair were horrified to learn of his past and it safety sparked fears in the town.

County sheriff Mike Robinson had earlier said he was concerned his department had not initially been informed of Bolinger’s crimes.

"We got an email notification, just like any other sex offender notification, last Thursday,” he told local reporters.

"There was nothing about his past, just that this guy had registered and he’s living at this address."

Sheriff Robinson then received a tip that he should look further into Bolinger’s convictions.

"We did and that’s when we found out his past,” he explained. "It was very concerning."

Bolinger was originally arrested in Canterbury following information from the FBI who were investigating internet chats about rape, murder and cannibalism.