A cold and distressed young boy lost in a city centre fell into the clutches of a prolific paedophile prowling the streets at 3am dressed as a police officer - wearing a bullet proof vest, a utility belt and holding what appeared to be a wireless radio, a court heard.
Robert Byrne was told by a judge who jailed him that he had a 'lifetime of committing sexual offences against teenage boys'.
He had previously been caught in Manchester impersonating a police officer in 2003, the judge was told. In that case, he 'befriended' a young boy near Piccadilly railway station, in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevented him from having any contact with underage youngsters, prosecutors said.
The 13-year-old victim in the latest case had run away from where he was living and travelled on his own into Liverpool city centre, hoping to find his mum's house in the Everton area, the city's crown court was told. READ MORE: She cheated on her husband with personal trainer - then used his bank account to steal thousands from her boss READ MORE: The fascinating link between Coco Chanel and the North West - and how she changed fashion forever However he ended up lost and scared in the early hours of February 27 this year, and turned to a city centre shopkeeper for help.
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