 An undated photo of Christopher Paul Neil taken from the Interpol web site on October 16, 2007.
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VANCOUVER - B.C.’s “Swirly Face” sex offender is expected back in court Wednesday to assess his release after he was arrested landing in Vancouver, following a five-year sentence for child molestation in Asia.
Christopher Paul Neil, 37, is a former teacher who gained his nickname after police uncovered his digitally altered face in Vietnamese and Cambodian sexual abuse photos posted online. He appeared in the prisoner’s box Monday in provincial court in Richmond.
According to Crown, Neil has agreed to remain in custody pending his next hearing, when conditions might be imposed for his release.
Former Mountie Brian McConaghy has been following the investigation — which continues in Cambodia — and now operates a protection agency in Asia for victims of child abuse.
“There’s clear evidence his offences are quite extensive elsewhere,” he said outside court.
“When it’s a system of abuse, where people are predators who travel overseas to avoid the protections provided to children in Canada … those individuals need to be pursued.”
The case dates back to at least October 2007, when Neil was arrested in rural Thailand in connection to photographs depicting the sexual abuse of 12 boys.
Neil has no criminal record in Canada, but was arrested using a section of the Criminal Code that pertains to actions that can cause fear of sexual offences to persons under the age of 16.
Vancouver lawyer Michael Mines, who has represented sex offenders in the past, said unless release conditions are agreed upon between Crown and defence, the judge has powers to keep Neil behind bars for up to a year.
“This kind of thing exists not just with respect to sexual offences, but with respect to what is often referred to as a peace bond … where there’s a fear somebody might injure somebody in the future,” he said.
“People do get arrested, and rather than being charged with an offence, they’re asked to enter into a section 810 peace bond to have no contact with a person.”
