A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for repeatedly abusing a child and posing as another boy’s father to abduct him from school.

Dean Freeman, 21, of Hamstel Road, Southend, viewed vile images of young boys being sexually abused before calling a Rayleigh school claiming to be the father of a ten-year-old pupil.

He told staff he was sending a taxi to collect the child as he needed to attend a dental appointment. Freeman, who later admitted his motivation was sexual, then contacted a Rayleigh taxi firm to pick the boy up.

But his plan was foiled by the quick-thinking actions of driver Steven Hilder.

He became suspicious after the boy said he did not recognise the house where he had been taken. Moments later Mr Hilder picked Freeman up from his home in Hamstel Road, Southend, but threw him out his car after he was told by his office the victim didn’t have permission to leave school.

It was only when he was arrested for abduction on January 3 another child came forward and reported he had been sexually abused by Freeman for six years between 2000 and 2006.

At Basildon Crown Court, Judge Michael Brooke QC branded Freeman a danger to the public, and praised Mr Hilder for spotting the danger.

He added: “It is clear to me the defendant does have sado-sexual fantasies and he showed he had the motivation to realise such fantasies.”

Freeman pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to abduction, possessing indecent images of children, gross indecency on a child under 16 and sexual touching of a child without consent and was jailed for five years and eight months.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register.