TWO MPs have called for Government reforms after probation officers admitted they failed to protect children in York from a pervert.

York MP Hugh Bayley is writing to the Home Office in the light of the case of Michael Anderson and is supported by Selby MP John Grogan.

Anderson, 42, was under supervision by probation officers after his release partway through an eight-year sentence for inciting a child into a sex act, Leeds Crown Court heard. But despite this, he tried to lure two other children into his car.

Mr Bayley said: "This man needs to be in prison to stop him harming children.

"There is a deeper problem about what to do with unreformed and dangerous sex offenders at the end of their prison sentence.

"I think the Home Office needs to consult about a form of protective custody to keep people who are judged to pose a risk of reoffending under lock and key until they can reassure a parole board they are ready for release."

In May, the Evening press reported Mr Bayley had urged the Government to ensure that paedophile David Lutz Ward would be kept in custody even when his prison sentence ends.

Mr Grogan said: "Nothing sends shivers through the spine of parents more than reports of a case like this and I would urge the Government to undertake an urgent policy review."

Judge Peter Benson jailed Anderson for 12 years, plus two years extra supervision when he is finally released in a second attempt to curb his sexual appetites.

"Three psychiatric reports agree you pose a continued risk to children and young girls in particular," the judge told Anderson. A York jury convicted Anderson, of Willow Glade, Huntington, of two charges of inciting a child into sexual activity last year.

The court heard how on September 1, 2004, Anderson was driving around the area where he lived in Huntington in his car and asked an eight-year-old girl on her way to buy sweets from the shop to get into his car.

Half an hour later he approached a ten-year-old girl - in both cases the girls got away.

At the time, Anderson was out on licence after serving only one year of an eight-year extended sentence which included five years' supervision after his release from jail.

It was imposed in June 2003 when he pleaded guilty to sending notes to two young girls saying he wanted to rape them.

He was also put on the sex offenders' register for life.

Roz Brown, chief officer for North Yorkshire Probation Service, said: "While the Probation Service is unable to comment on specific cases, we can confirm that Mr Anderson was under our supervision following release from prison at the time these offences occurred.

"The Probation Service is charged with protecting the public and with working with offenders to minimise the risk they pose to the public.

"However, it is impossible to remove the risk entirely, and we very much regret that we were unsuccessful on this occasion."

Outside court, Det Sgt Bryan Redshaw, of North Yorkshire Police, said Anderson had been on licence and under supervision at the time of the offence, but it was not possible to watch him 24 hours a day.

"It would be unrealistic to expect that supervisors could maintain contact 24/7."

Updated: 08:28 Monday, October 03, 2005