Violent sex offender back in custody

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A violent child sex offender who had been on the run from Magilligan prison has been re-arrested. It is understood 29-year-old John Patrick Smyth was detained by police yesterday.

He had been unlawfully at large since Monday after failing to return to Magilligan prison in Co Londonderry after a period of home release.

The tattooed drug user is serving a sentence for gross indecency with or towards a child, rape, aggravated assault, being armed with an offensive weapon with intent to commit an offence, and making a threat to kill.