Appalled relatives of a paedophile's victim who spotted the man one year after he was sentenced to five, are demanding an explanation from their MP.

One relative, who saw him in Borehamwood this week, said: "It's just disgusting that they can let him out after only one year.

"I cannot believe it. The sentence wasn't long enough and if he's done it before he can do it again. The time he's served is not enough to stop him re-offending."

Philip Harvey, of Aycliffe Road, Borehamwood, has convictions for indecently assaulting three children in 1970. He was sentenced to five years in prison in August 1996 for indecently assaulting a ten-year-old boy under his supervision.

The court heard how the 45-year-old former youth football coach invited his victim to his home and got him drunk. They were told how he then played strip poker with the young footballer before getting into bed with him and committing a serious sexual assault.

Last year his sentence was cut to three years on appeal, and he was released in December after serving 16 months. Harvey is now living in Borehamwood, and relatives of one of his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are outraged at the length of time he served.

The relative said: "If he had been in prison for much longer, I wouldn't be taking this action. But what really gets me is that people get longer sentences for burglary, and crimes like that. How can just 16 months for a man like this be justice?"

At his trial, the judge described Harvey's actions as an appalling breach of trust so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

He said: "This is a bad case of indecent assault. It beggars belief to think that you, a man of 44, should be getting a ten-year-old boy drunk and getting into bed with him. It is aggravated, in my judgement, by the way you sought to persuade that boy to tell his mother, as indeed he did, a false story about how he came to be drunk."

But at his appeal, Harvey -- who pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting the then ten-year-old boy in September 1995 -- had his sentence reduced to three years. This left him eligible for release after serving half the sentence.

Judges at the appeal, which took place last June, said the five-year sentence was "somewhat out of scale with the normal level of sentence for cases of this kind".

But the relative said: "It is just ridiculous. How can five years even be enough for what he did? They were serious crimes. I don't think people have thought enough about the children he's now living near."

DCI Jack Kennedy of Barnet and Hertsmere police said: "There are methods put into force when someone is released like this. He has to comply with certain conditions. We are aware of him and of where he is living and are satisfied with the situation.

"If people have concerns about matters involving anyone they think is a danger to others they should contact the police and we will investigate."

Harvey has always maintained his innocence. The Borehamwood Times asked him to comment, he declined on the advice of his solicitor.

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