A CONVICTED paedophile was allowed out of prison for the day to attend his mother's funeral.

Clifford Delafield, currently serving an indefinite life sentence at Wakefield High Security Prison, was at Pleasington Crematorium for the funeral of his mother Hilda Delafield.

Delafield, a former soldier from Hawthorn Avenue, Darwen, was jailed in 1990 after he admitted a string of serious offences.

At least eight children between three and 12 were attacked by Delafield and psychiatric reports described him as extremely dangerous and a sexual deviant.

The judge at the Liverpool Crown Court trial described Delafield as a danger to children before sentencing him for rape, sodomy and seven offences of indecent assault. Delafield was driven up to the crematorium shortly after the funeral cortege arrived.

He emerged from the car handcuffed and chained and flanked by two prison officers.

Delafield was allowed to hug and kiss family and friends before going into the chapel for the short service.

More than 50 relatives and friends were at Pleasington Crematorium for the service, which passed without incident.

Hilda Delafield, a mother of eight, died earlier this week at the age of 61 at her home.

The Delafield family have asked for donations to be sent to the Neo-Natal Unit at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

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