'Radioactive' child porn suspect may have fled to Ireland

A 42-year-old college principal who is said to be “dangerously radioactive” may have fled to Ireland ahead of his trial on child pornography charges.

Thomas Marius Leopold, who had undergone radiation treatment for a thyroid condition, skipped bail shortly before his trial two weeks ago and a warrant for his arrest was issued yesterday.

The former banker, from Hammersmith, west London, faces five charges of making and possessing child porn after downloading a library of the material in 2006. He was arrested in July, 2006 and his case fixed for October, but his ill health forced an adjournment. A trial was eventually rescheduled for February 9th this year.

But four days before that hearing he drove on to a ferry at Fishguard, South Wales. He was stopped and questioned by Special Branch officers but they released him after he showed them his radiation card and insisted his bail conditions had been changed so he could visit his mother in Ireland.

He then drove onto the ferry heading for Rosslare, Co Wexford.

Southwark Crown Court judge John Price, who issued the warrant for his arrest, said: “Please warn officers that when he is arrested he might be radioactive. This is not a joke.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman said today: “We would appeal for anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact police.”