Paedophile's UK move postponed

A British-born paedophile due to be deported today from Australia will remain behind bars there - at least for now.

Immigration officials stepped in at the last minute to block the deportation from Perth to England of 66-year-old Robert Earnest Excell.

It came after Western Australia's attorney-general Jim McGinty agreed to release Excell on condition he was immediately repatriated to Britain, where he lived until he was 10.

Mr McGinty had previously refused Excell parole because he still posed a danger to children.

Excell, who is married, has spent 37 years behind bars for four separate convictions of sexually abusing and molesting boys as young as seven.

When freed on good behaviour in the past, he has preyed on little boys and committed similar crimes. Even his wife said she would not leave her grandchildren alone with him.

The federal immigration department's decision to step in means Excell will remain in prison until a final decision on deportation is taken.