Police search for child sex offender Michael Pearce

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a child sex offender out of jail on parole after molesting a teenager in the Illawarra earlier this year.

Police are appealing for information relating to the whereabouts of a registered child sex offender who was only released from prison last month.

Michael Pearce, 37, is wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for breaching his reporting obligations as a registrable person on the Child Protection Register, contravening a Child Protection Order.

A police spokesperson said officers from Campbelltown Police Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad had conducted numerous inquiries into his whereabouts, but had been unable to find him.

Pearce was sentenced in Wollongong Local Court in August after he molested a teenage girl in a busy Illawarra shopping centre earlier this year.

Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Michael Pearce. Picture: NSW Police

The NSW Mid North Coast man received an 18-month sentence with a non-parole period of six months for two counts of intentionally sexually touching a child between the ages of 10 and 16 as well as resisting an officer in the execution of their duty.

Pearce was granted parole on Sunday, October 23.

CCTV footage of Taree man Michael Pearce molesting a 15-year-old girl at the Funland arcade in Wollongong Central shopping centre. Picture: Supplied

Police have described Pearce as being of caucasian appearance, about 175cm to 180cm tall, of medium build with shaved brown hair.

The police spokesperson said Pearce has previously resided in the Campbelltown area and uses the rail network.

He is known to frequent Central Railway Station as well as Sydney’s CBD and Wollongong.

If sighted, members of the public are urged to contact local police immediately, otherwise information about his whereabouts can be provided to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.