Update: Police arrest convicted sex offender Paul Vernon March 2015 Paedophile predator feared to be trawling Scots primary schools for victims – Police tried to keep it secret from parents A PAEDOPHILE predator is feared to be trawling primary schools for victims – but police have tried to keep it secret from parents. Police Scotland warned teachers at several schools to look out for sex beast Paul Vernon, left, who befriends single mums so that he can molest their children. But officers said parents and kids were not to be told about the manhunt. A parent – who asked for anonymity – said: “I just do not understand the hush-hush way that police have gone about this. “They seem desperate to combat the fear of crime and want to avoid making the public panic but surely families have a right to know? Parents may even be able to help catch the guy.” Former Royal Navy submariner Vernon – jailed for five-and-a-half years for sex attacks on a child – is believed to be targeting schools in Argyll. The search for Vernon comes after last week’s controversy when Police Scotland said none of the country’s 4775 registered sex offenders was missing. But it has been revealed nine sex offenders were on the run and wanted by police. Police said there was a difference between “missing” and “wanted”. This week, school staff in Dunoon, Helensburgh and Oban were urgently briefed by police about Vernon, 58, then asked to sign a document confirming they had seen his photo. Officers said Vernon was wanted and told staff to call 999 if they saw him in or around their school but referred to him as a “missing person”. He may know the area, home to Faslane naval base, from his time in the Navy. Police CCTV handout of wanted sex offender Paul Vernon Vernon, of Redditch, Worcestershire, is on the run after breaching his probation and may be wild camping or staying in a B&B in Oban, police in England believe. A source in Argyll said: “Officers came to the school. They said they had been working with officers from West Mercia Police to try to trace Paul Vernon. “They believed he was in the Dunoon, Helensburgh and Oban area. “Officers showed everyone a mugshot of Vernon and then staff had to sign a form confirming they had viewed the picture. “They made it clear that if this man was seen, staff were to call 999, but kept talking about him as a missing person. “It is horrible. No one could understand why parents were not to be informed.” Police warned staff Vernon may use a fake name and is known to target single mums with daughters aged eight or nine. In 2010, Vernon was jailed for five-and-a-half years for molesting a girl and having sex in front of her. He has been recalled to prison for breach of probation. After our inquiries, Police Scotland went public last night. A spokesman said: “Our officers are assisting West Mercia Police in locating and apprehending a man wanted in connection with breaching a protection order in England. “It is understood he may be staying in the Oban area. There is nothing to suggest he is an immediate risk. “We continue to work closely with Argyle (sic) and Bute Council and West Mercia Police and inquiries are ongoing.” March 2010 Former Royal Navy worker jailed for child sex offences A FORMER Royal Navy submarine worker who molested a little girl and had sex in front of her to ‘show off’ has been jailed for five-and-a-half years. Burnley Crown Court heard Paul Vernon, 53,  of Lyndenwood, Redditch groped the child and twice had sex with his partner while she was in the room. The offences took place in Barnoldswick The victim changed from an outgoing girl to one who became withdrawn and would lock herself in her room after her ordeals, the court was told. Vernon, who served many years in the Royal Navy, admitted two charges of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one allegation of assaulting a child under 13 by penetration. The defendant, at the time of the offences and his arrest living in Barnoldswick, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register and given a sexual offences prevention order. He had been on remand 235 days. Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gibson told him: “Sexual abuse wrecks lives. These offences cause substantial public concern by their very nature. The offences have had a significant impact on the victim.” Simon Gurney, prosecuting, said when the defendant was arrested he denied any sexual behaviour towards the victim. He said he had engaged in a sex act in the girl’s presence but told police as far as he was aware the victim had not known what was going on. He claimed he had not derived any pleasure from it. The defendant had no previous convictions. Bob Elias, for Vernon, said he had had a worthwhile and responsible career in the Navy on nuclear-powered and armed submarines and had qualifications in both trident and polaris. Against that background his ”inappropriate and morally repugnent’ conduct was all the more disturbing and upsetting, Mr Elias said. The barrister said there may have been an element of grooming in the case, but Vernon did not ‘follow through’ to having sex with children. Mr Elias told the court: “Whatever fantasy he’s acting out is not one that involves sex with young children.”