Parents have been warned to be extra vigilant and escort children to a Chelmsford primary and nursery school after it was discovered that a convicted paedophile lives nearby.

Melbourne Park Junior and Nursery School head Paula Jackman has written to parents after the Chronicle revealed that children's book illustrator Nick Dinnen is still living in a house that overlooks the school fields.

Dinnen, 31, whose design company Createbox boasts blue chip clients such as British Airways and BT, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates on December 2 to making and possessing more than 18,500 indecent child images downloaded at his home since July 2002.

In a letter to parents Miss Jackman, although not identifying Dinnen, writes: "I ask that you continue to escort your children to and from school. Please inform us should you have any concerns about strangers outside the school."

The letter went on: "Our school is always a secure site and we will make sure that we are even more vigilant."

He was involved in school IT projects - not at Melbourne Park school - and featured in photographs when Dunmow Junior School opened its £35,000 computer suite in 1999.

Although released on unconditional bail to Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing, Melbourne Park school did not learn about his conviction until last week when the Chronicle spoke with Miss Jackman.

Dinnen, who faces the prospect of jail when he appears at Crown Court on Monday next week, has been allowed to remain at home since police raided it last July.

The school's governors met in emergency session last Friday and wrote to parents on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements, a serious crimes watchdog which incudes police and probation chiefs, said: "We are unable to comment on individual cases, but I can say that every case referred to MAPPA is given individual scrutiny."

Neighbours have criticised Chelmsford Magistrates' failure to ban Dinnen from living at home and claim Essex Police officers told them they had no power to move him on.

One resident said: "When we complained to the police they said they were powerless until he was sentenced.

"I find it unbelievable that a convicted paedophile should be allowed to continue living near to a school."

His professional services are published on an internet site called 'ecademy', a website connecting business people, which features his work as a web and graphic designer.

Published Thursday January 27, 2005

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