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Judge issues radioactive 'pr0n downloader' alert

'This is not a joke'

A judge has warned that a man who jumped bail while facing child pornography charges and fled to Ireland could pose a radiation risk to those he comes into contact with.

College principal Thomas Leopold, 42, was slated for an appearance before the beak accused of "five counts of making indecent images of children, and one of possessing indecent images of children, in 2006", the Telegraph explains.

While on bail, the head of The Tutors Group private college in Hammersmith received "large doses of radiotherapy treatment for a thyroid condition" - the last on 3 February. On 5 February, he allegedly drove from London to Fishguard where he convinced a Special Branch officer the terms of his bail had been altered to enable him to visit his mother in Ireland, before boarding a ferry to Rosslare, and "has not been seen since".

Presiding at Southwark Crown Court, Judge John Price issued a warrant for Leopold's arrest, and cautioned: "Please warn officers that when he is arrested he might be radioactive. This is not a joke."

Barrister Jeannie Mackie, defending, said: "His doctor confirmed that he is dangerous, in terms of radioactivity, for a period of six weeks after treatment and he had treatment on February 3." ®

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