POKEMON playing paedophiles could use the craze to target children, a leading Essex criminologist has warned.

Dr Natalie Mann said parents need to be aware of the risks of allowing children to use Pokémon Go without supervision claiming high risk sex offenders may use it as a map to find children.

She said: "As children and young people take part in the global craze it is paramount parents and carers are mindful of the unfortunate risks which their children may be subject to.

"While this phenomena subconsciously encourages our younger generation to exercise, engage with their local community and generally enjoy the great outdoors, it also induces them to visit places very hidden from the usual sites of childhood activity, engage with people previously unknown to them and generally follow a predictable pattern of behaviour which will be well known by other ‘Pokémon Go’ users.

"In short our children may currently be at a greater risk from predatory sexual offenders, and as a mother and a criminologist, I feel it is vital parents are armed with the facts."

Dr Mann is an expert at examining the behaviour of high risk sex offenders based at Anglia Ruskin University.

She works with Essex Mappa (multi-agency public protection arrangements) to make sure monitoring and surveillance of paedophiles in the community is working.

And her views are taking seriously by Essex Police and the Essex Probation Service who consult with her about risks.

Dr Mann said: "Within the 50,000 registered sexual offenders, there will be some individuals, who will use this new craze as a means of communicating with children and young people, meeting with children and young people and possibly even enticing children and young people to certain locations.

"In effect what ‘Pokémon Go’ has done, is to provide a map of locations where children and young people can be found and this is a dangerous tool in the wrong hands."

Dr Mann claims what makes this different to schools, parks and playgrounds is game locations are not always visible and a child engrossed in the game may find themselves taking risks.

She added: "It is not unlikely children and young people could fall prey to sexual offenders who use the game at best to satisfy their emotional congruence with children and at worst, entice them to places where abuse could take place."

New York State has already banned all sex offenders on parole from using the game.

There have also been calls in the US to use databases to make sure Pokéstops and gyms and not close to residents where child sex offenders live, although this would not be possible in the UK.

Dr Mann said parents need to educate children about this risk and some may want to escort their children around locations.

She added; "All too often we look to the police and other agencies in the quest for our children’s welfare, but this time we need to take responsibility and keep our children safe from the extremely rare but very dangerous predatory sexual offender."