A CONVICTED paedophile thought to be hiding in Ireland after going on the run from Gwent may no longer be there, police say.

Roger Gardener, who has spent almost two years on the run, vanished before he could stand trial for allegedly staging a vigilante-style arson attack on his home in High Street, Fleur-de-Lys near Blackwood.

Gardener - convicted of indecently assaulting two teenage girls two years ago - was to be tried at Cardiff crown court but went missing in April 2001. Now police are waiting to see if the Garda - the Irish Republic police - will help their hunt.

But they say it is not even known if Gardener is still there. Detective Sergeant Dave Ransom, of Ebbw Vale police station, said: "We put Gardener in Ireland with some certainty about a year ago but we have no idea where he is at the moment and there is no point in asking for help until we have the paperwork in place.

"Until extradition papers are served that will enable us to arrest him, our hands are tied."

The Argus revealed he was missing after reporting restrictions were lifted. Gwent Assembly Members also urged police to step up the hunt for Gardener, as they feared he could commit fresh crimes.

Gardener was jailed for 15 months in September 2000, after a jury found him guilty of indecently assaulting two girls.

He was released on bail before he was sentenced, which is when he allegedly 'masterminded' a plot to set fire to his home in a bid to gain sympathy from the judge and get a lighter sentence.

Detectives are now going through a long process of obtaining permission from the Garda for an arrest and extradition.

As the Republic is not part of an Extradition Treaty, Gwent Police must present a lot of case detail before Irish officers will arrest someone on their behalf.

The application for Gardener's extradition is currently being assessed by the Irish Office and a decision is expected in the next few weeks.

Detective Sergeant Ransome added: "We are still actively looking for him. "If anybody has any information in relation to his whereabouts they should call 01495 350999 in confidence."

Gardener is meant to inform police of his whereabouts as he is on bail and on the sex offenders register.