A 77-year-old child sex offender from Hertfordshire who did not turn up at court for sentencing could have fled to Cyprus, police said.

Michael McCartney, from Sollershott Hall in Letchworth, was jailed for eight years in his absence at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday.

The offences happened in Letchworth between 1989 and 2006.

Helen Bradley, of Hertfordshire Police, said it was possible he had fled to Europe, “specifically Cyprus”.

She warned that anyone helping him may face police action.

Ms Bradley said: “I would appeal to anyone who knows the whereabouts of Michael McCartney to contact police without delay.

“Regardless of where he is staying we will use the full powers of the law to bring him back and face justice for the sake of his young victims.”

McCartney was sentenced for nine counts of indecent assault, one offence of gross indecency with a child and one offence of sexual activity with a child.

BBC