AN alleged child sex offender has been re-housed by police after a group of mums posted warning leaflets through residents’ letterboxes.

Darren Lee Cook, 25, had been bailed to Saxon Close, Oswald-twistle, after being charged with a number of sexual offences including making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

He is also accused of arranging the commission of a child sex offence, allegedly involving trying to bring a nine-year-old Serbian girl into the country.

He has denied these offences at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court last year.

Cook is also charged with eight further allegations of possessing indecent images of children, sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, inciting a 12-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity and driving without insurance.

He is to face trial in May on all allegations.

But on Thursday night, police officers turned up at his flat in Saxon Close and took him away with his head covered in a blanket, following a campaign by local parents.

They had posted leaflets with details of the allegations against Cook through approximately 60 letterboxes and knocked on doors in surrounding streets, identifying his home address.

One mum, Caroline Brew, said: “It is a close community where everyone gets together.

"Everyone’s children walks past his house on the way to school.

“Every single house has young children and there is a karate club for children with learning difficulties on the road.”

She denied it was vigilanteeism, adding: “It was not a mob, it was just to protect our children.”

Mum-of-one Deborah Hindle, 48, of Norman Road on the same estate said: “We just got together and decided we were not putting up with it.

“West End Primary School is adjacent and there’s a nursery and pre-school based in West End Community Centre yards away. There’s also a children’s park here.

“Whether these allegations are true or not, I can’t think of a worse place to put someone accused of serious offences like these.”

Lancashire Police confirmed they did attend the address to remove Cook after pressure from local residents.

Cook is currently on bail on the condition not to enter the borough of Blackburn with Darwen and non-contact with witnesses or children under 16.

He was also given an electronically monitored curfew.

Comments unavailable on this story for legal reasons.