FEARS of community unrest in Rockwell Green were mounting this week after a social media post revealed that a convicted paedophile was living in the area.

Details of James Cameron Storey, aged 22, were posted on a widely-read Facebook page by a group describing itself as a ‘child protection service’ dedicated to exposing sex offenders in the UK and Ireland.

Storey is due to appear in Taunton Crown Court for sentencing on October 13.

He was convicted by a jury earlier this month of two counts of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 years by touching, and one count of common assault.

His victim was seven at the time of the assaults in April of last year.

The case was highlighted at the weekend on a town Facebook page and attracted comments threatening harm to Storey, who was said to live close to Rockwell Green Primary School.

Wellington county, district, and town Cllr Marcus Barr, who lives in Rockwell Green, told the Wellington Weekly he feared there would be violence unless Storey was moved from the area.

Cllr Barr said: “I have seen it happen here before not very long ago so I know how emotive it can be when people find out that a paedophile is living among them.

“They have got to get him moved before somebody takes the law into their own hands.

“It needs to happen for his own safety and for the wider good of the community.”

An Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman told the Wellington Weekly police were aware that details of Storey had been published online.

The spokesman said: “We have subsequently provided safeguarding advice to James Storey while he awaits sentence.

“His victim and their family have been provided support throughout the investigation and during the course of the criminal proceedings.”

Unemployed Storey was aged 21 at the time he committed the offences, which he denied in court.

He was released on court bail ahead of the sentencing hearing in October.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Across the Avon and Somerset area, agencies work together to robustly manage registered sex offenders and violent offenders who may pose a risk to the community.

“This process is governed by MAPPA arrangements, which is made up of a number of organisations including the police, local authorities and health and probation services. The aim of this process is to provide effective risk management plans to monitor offenders and reduce the risk of them reoffending.

“Although we don’t comment on individual cases, RSOs are carefully managed within the community and the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides the framework for RSOs to notify the police with key information, including their address. Any failure to comply with these requirements are acted on swiftly.

“The vast majority of RSOs are compliant with their requirements and any breaches or potential breaches of these requirements are dealt with.

“We take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously and in recent years we have increased our capacity and capability through additional resources to manage sex offenders in the Avon and Somerset area.

“We will always ensure we’re doing everything we can to protect the public.”