A CONVICTED paedophile has been forced from his home after residents of Bishops Lydeard discovered he was living in the village.

Robert Oliver, who has been going by the name Francis Lee, 52, was a member of an East London paedophile gang which killed 14-year-old Jason Swift in 1985.

He was released in September 1997 after serving 10 years of a 15-year sentence.

His whereabouts was published by a national newspaper on Sunday and at around 8.40pm on Monday evening Mr Oliver walked out of his house relatively unseen via the back door, wearing a hooded top and carrying a holdall following a day-long protest from angry residents.

Mr Oliver's house was surrounded by police officers since the protest began at 1pm, with many people chanting "get the paedophile out" and demanding that he be removed from the village.

For the full story, see Thursday's County Gazette.