Child sex offender Richard O’Neil now in custody after being arrested in Whyalla

A wanted Port Lincoln child sex offender who police refused to unmask for “privacy” reasons – despite failing to turn up for sentencing – has been caught in Whyalla.

A wanted child sex offender who police refused to release images of after he failed to turn up to court to be sentenced for his crimes is now in custody.

Richard O’Neil, 39, was due to face sentencing submissions in the Adelaide District Court on Wednesday but when he did not appear, Judge Timothy Heffernan issued a warrant for his arrest.

On Thursday The Messenger approached South Australia Police and asked if a photo could be provided of O’Neil to alert the public but the request was refused.

SA Police's privacy policy means a missing Port Lincoln paedophile's photo could not be released.

A spokesperson said they could not provide an image of the Port Lincoln man for “privacy” reasons.

“There are privacy principles that are under SAPOL’s general orders that restrict us from releasing images in certain situations,” a spokesperson said.

When SAPOL was contacted again by The Messenger, a police spokesperson said O’Neil was arrested in Whyalla on Friday and is now in custody.

After public outrage about a photo of a wanted child sex offender not being released, The Messenger asked SAPOL if they would consider changing their policies.

“South Australia Police will only release photographs of wanted people when there is a risk to members of the public; legislative requirements or privacy principles have been considered; and the current state of the investigation warrants public assistance to locate the offender,” the spokesperson said.

“Following consideration of the above, along with the potential to identify the victim by releasing the offender’s image, the assessment of risk to the community, and given ongoing early investigations into his whereabouts – it was not appropriate for his photograph to be provided to the media.”

The Messenger had also approached the Police, Emergency Services and Corrections Minister and Labor MP for Cheltenham, Joe Szakacs on Thursday.

The Minister refused to answer questions about the photo being made publicly available for the community’s safety and if stricter bail restrictions were needed for those facing serious child sex charges to prevent situations like this occurring.

O’Neil, of Port Lincoln, was found guilty in March of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child but on Wednesday his lawyer said they did not know where he was.

Jeff Powell, prosecuting, said police had also been actively looking for O’Neil for some time and he wasn’t at his bail address.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas promised if he won the election he would introduce a series of law reforms with the aim of protecting children.

Mr Malinauskas said he would introduce a public child sex-offender register that allows police to tell parents if there are any high-risk paedophiles living in their neighbourhood.

Under Labor’s plan, child sex offenders who breach their reporting conditions would be publicly identified and police would be allowed to provide parents with information about individuals who have regular contact with their children.

Mr Malinauskas said the proposed measures would “prioritise the safety of children and families”.

“Labor’s package of laws and penalties for child sex offenders will be the toughest in the nation when it comes to protecting our kids and punishing predators,” he said.

During O’Neil’s trial in the Port Augusta District Court in August, the court heard he subjected the victim to numerous sexual acts.

The court heard O’Neil abused her on more than five occasions.

The court heard before the victim disclosed O’Neil’s offending, she told her father she was scared of paedophiles and was reluctant to play in the park because she was scared of them being there.

Mr O’Neil will be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum term of life imprisonment.