A PAEDOPHILE who pleaded guilty to nine counts of abusing children has been jailed for eight years.

Appearing at Truro Crown Court on Friday Leslie Finch was sent to prison for abusing children as young as nine in Abbey Wood.

Finch was caught by the eagle-eyed owner of a guesthouse after he fled the Abbey Wood area.

Detectives in Sidcup had been hunting the 49-year-old since late 2006.

Finch, of no fixed address, was finally apprehended in Cornwall in January this year.

He admitted the 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.

His conviction followed an investigation, launched in 2006, by the Met’s child abuse investigation team, based in Sidcup.

Finch had fled to Cornwall, earning money as a labourer.

A man who runs a guesthouse in Falmouth recognised Finch when he came seeking a place to stay, and alerted police.

Detectives arrested Finch on January 22 and DC Lee Elliott of the Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “Today’s court proceedings mark the end of a protracted investigation. Finch 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. The public must be assured that we will investigate all allegations of sexual abuse against children, what ever it takes.”