Police in Bradford have started a manhunt for a dangerous convicted paedophile after he failed to appear for sentencing before a Crown Court judge.

Terrence Budd was due to appear at Leeds Crown Court yesterday where he faced being jailed for sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy.

He has not been seen in his neighbourhood for a week and police who went to his home after the scheduled court appearance found the flat boarded up.

After he failed to turn up at court Judge James Barry immediately issued a warrant for his arrest.

The grey-haired 59-year-old, who is a lay preacher with the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Little Horton, had previously been jailed for paedophile offences.

"He is a homosexual paedophile who is a danger to children, and it is a matter of public safety that he is brought before the court as soon as possible. I regret giving him bail," said Judge Barry.

Two officers from the child protection unit at Eccleshill Police were sent to arrest Budd at his flat in Taunton House, Croscombe Walk, Little Horton, where they found it had been boarded up.

Pastor Paul Howarth, of the Seventh Day Adventist Church where Budd was a member, said: "I spoke to him last Thursday and he seemed quite relaxed about the whole thing.

"He also spoke to a couple of our members outside church after the service on Saturday. My concern now is for Terrence's welfare - maybe he has done something to himself."

Detective Inspector Steve Long, of Eccleshill Police, said: "We agree with the judge's comments and consider this to be a serious matter which requires immediate action."

Budd pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court in March to one offence of indecent assault and one of gross indecency against a child.

He was granted bail by Judge Barry to await the preparation of pre-sentence and psychiatric reports with the condition he stay away from under 16-year-olds.

In 1985 Budd was sentenced to a total of four years at Peterborough Crown Court after admitting six charges of indecent assault on three boys under 16.

In 1992 he was sentenced to four years at Leeds Crown Court for similar offences.

Both convictions came before the National Paedophile Register was set up and meant Budd was not listed as a child sex offender.

Marsha Singh, Labour MP for Bradford West, said: "When he applied for Council accommodation in July 1997 the local authority did not know of his record.

That won't happen again, but in this instance the introduction of the register came too late."

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