A paedophile who absconded from St Albans Crown Court before he could begin a four-year prison sentence for indecently assaulting a toddler has been arrested by police.

Ian McDonald, 39, of Hemel Hempstead, appeared at the Crown Court last Thursday (3) charged with indecent assault against a three-year-old child in December 2002.

But he made off from the court before the jury had reached its verdict.

McDonald was found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison in his absence.

The judge also ordered that he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

A spokesman for Herts Police said McDonald was on court bail at the time of his appearance at St Albans, and not in police custody.

Following an appeal to members of the public for help locating him, officers searching for McDonald made inquiries at a number of homes in Hemel Hempstead.

The sex offender was subsequently discovered at one of those addresses last Friday night (4).

McDonald has been taken into police custody.

*A 20-year-old man from Hemel has been arrested on suspicion of harbouring and assisting an offender. He is also currently in police custody.