Row over ex-Bath newsagent Lewis Knight's passport

A row has broken out over who allowed a child rapist to flee the country after having his passport confiscated.

Lewis Knight received a new passport after claiming his had been stolen and then used it to jump bail and head to Spain after being arrested in 1999.

The Home Office said it had not been informed of Knight's background while Avon and Somerset Police refused to comment on details of the case.

Knight, also known as Luis Caballero, was jailed for 15 years on Monday.

A spokesman for the Identity and Passport Service said: "Where the police have notified IPS of an individual's bail conditions we will always take them into account before considering issuing a passport.

"In this case, we were not informed of this individual's bail conditions."

Detective Inspector Mike Williams, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Where magistrates' court bail conditions are altered the police national computer is automatically updated with the new conditions.

I think anybody would have assumed that if a passport had been confiscated then the relevant passport authorities would have immediately been notified”

"The court also notifies Avon and Somerset Police which in turn informs the Identity and Passport Service.

"Where the Identity and Passport Service have concerns about a passport application they routinely contact Avon and Somerset Police who can make inquiries on their behalf and advise them accordingly."

He added that this case highlighted the importance of agencies working together but would not add further comment about Knight's case specifically.

MP for Bath Don Foster said it was "ludicrous" someone could "hop on a ferry" and go into hiding after having their passport confiscated.

"I think anybody would have assumed that if a passport had been confiscated then the relevant passport authorities would have immediately been notified," he said.

"I am deeply concerned that they don't appear to have been notified and I am also concerned to learn that there doesn't appear to be a very clear procedure about what should happen in those circumstances.

David Niven, a child protection expert and former chairman of the British Association of Social Workers, said it was a "gross mistake" but less likely to happen these days.

"This happened in 1999 and, yes, it was a human error that should've been dealt with, but I think people should be reassured that relations these days between agencies is much tighter.

"These days it is less likely to happen, but never say never."

Last week, jurors at Bristol Crown Court found 60-year-old Knight guilty of 11 charges, including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency with a child.

The former Bath newsagent, who is also known as Luis Caballero, fled the UK in 2000 before he was due to stand trial.

He was tracked down in Spain and extradited last year.