A PHOTOGRAPH of a wanted paedophile has finally been released by police five months after he went on the run.

Stephen Burnell, 54, disappeared halfway through his trial at York Crown Court in February of this year where he faced various charges of sexual offences against a young girl over a four year period.

These included attempted rape, indecent assault and the taking of pornographic photographs.

The crimes took place after he befriended the nine-year-old girl's family. He was found guilty by a jury in his absence and a month later, when police still had not caught him, Judge John Ashurst sentenced him to six years in jail.

But despite being unable to find Burnell, who used to live in the South Bank area of York, North Yorkshire Police refused to release his picture in the face of repeated requests from The Press.

At the time a spokesman for the police force said: "Before releasing a photograph we are obliged to carry out a detailed risk assessment, which must include, and take into account, the family of the victim."

Clive Elliott, operations director of the Victims Of Crime Trust, said it "beggars belief" that Burnell had been given bail for such serious crimes in the first place.

"An attempted rape of any person is a very serious crime, but it makes it all the more aggravating when it is an innocent, defenceless child. And for this individual to have been given bail surely would have put other children at risk."

In a statement released today the spokesman said the photograph had not been released originally until Burnell's victim had finished her school exams as she felt the publicity surrounding the photograph would have placed undue pressure on her at an important time in her life.

But the public can now see the face of the man who is on the Sex Offender's Register for life.

Burnell was last known to be living at an address in North Wales, but despite an extensive search no trace of him has ever been found.

He is described as 5ft 6in tall, with a noticeably red complexion and ginger/blond hair, which was cropped short, and a full beard. But police have pointed out he could have altered his appearance by shaving or growing his hair longer.

Anyone who knows of his whereabouts should phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.