A PAEDOPHILE who raped a child was caught by an eagle-eyed owner of a guesthouse.

Detectives in Sidcup had been hunting 49-year-old Leslie Finch since he left the Abbey Wood area in late 2006.

Finch, of no fixed address, was finally apprehended in Cornwall, in January. He pleaded guilty to 12 offences at Truro Crown Court, on Friday.

He admitted rape of a child under 16 between May 2005 and October 2006, three indecent assaults on a child under 16 between May 2001 and May 2003, sexual activity with a child under 16 between May 2004 and May 2005, sexual activity with a child between June 2006 and August 2006, sexual activity with a child in October 2006, two counts of sexual activity with a child under 13 between January 2006 and August 2006 and three counts of possession of indecent photographs of children in 2006.

All the victims were aged between nine and 14 at the time the offences took place in Abbey Wood. The investigation began in October 2006 and Finch left the area around that time.

Police received a tip-off in July last year that Finch had been staying in seaside towns in Cornwall, earning money as a labourer, but he managed to evade capture.

A man who runs a guesthouse in Falmouth kept press cuttings about the case and when Finch came seeking a place to stay, he recognised him and alerted police. Detectives arrested Finch on January 22.

Det Con Lee Elliott said: "Finch has evaded capture for 16 months and in doing so has put his young victims through an even greater ordeal, knowing he was still out there.

"We have a sharp-eyed member of the public and media appeals to thank for ending Finch's run from justice."

Finch was remanded in custody until sentencing in April.