TWIN PAEDOPHILES THOMAS AND KEN PARKER HIDE IN QUIET FRENCH VILLAGE AFTER ESCAPING UK JUSTICE

In a dramatic development, two notorious twin brothers, Thomas and Ken Parker, both aged 56, have been located hiding in the tranquil village of Quillan in southern France. The twins, who have a dark history of sex offenses and a background as mercenaries, had been on the run following a series of disturbing sex attacks on minors in the United Kingdom. Their past is marred by convictions and allegations that span across the UK and France, making their capture a significant breakthrough for law enforcement agencies.

Thomas and Ken Parker, once known as 'dogs of war' due to their violent and mercenary past in conflict zones such as the former Yugoslavia and South Africa, were added to the UK’s most wanted list last month. Their criminal activities, combined with their dangerous backgrounds, prompted an extensive manhunt that culminated in their discovery in the sleepy French village of Quillan. The village, with a modest population of approximately 3,500 residents, became the unlikely scene of a police operation that resulted in the arrest of Thomas Parker last night. French authorities swooped in and apprehended him, while his brother Ken managed to escape, fleeing in a white work van that he was believed to have been sleeping inside.

According to reports from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), the twin brothers had infiltrated the village under false pretenses, posing as construction workers to conceal their true identities. It is believed they arrived in Quillan around two years ago, with Thomas establishing a residence with a local barmaid named Ocria, a mother of nine children. Meanwhile, Ken was said to have been residing in the same work van used for their supposed employment. Both brothers were considered highly dangerous, especially given their history of breaching the conditions of their sex offenders’ registration and their violent pasts.

Thomas Parker was detained following a tip from members of the public who recognized him and provided authorities with his whereabouts. His arrest was swift, and he was placed in custody, pending further legal proceedings. In contrast, Ken Parker, upon hearing of the police operation targeting his brother, fled into the nearby mountainous terrain of the Pyrénées, evading capture. Law enforcement officials are now actively searching the rugged foothills of the Pyrénées in a desperate effort to locate and apprehend him before he can pose any further threat.

Testimonies from local residents and acquaintances paint a disturbing picture of the twins’ past. Sharon McKenna, a mother of four and an expatriate living in the area, recounted her unsettling interactions with Ken Parker. She revealed that one of the twins once told her, “Age doesn’t matter when you are in love,” and claimed that he would bring girls to his house for sex and then exchange them with his brother. McKenna expressed her concern for local children, warning them to be cautious around the brothers.

Ocria, the barmaid who was reportedly living with Thomas, stated that she never suspected any of their illicit activities. She also disclosed that her youngest child was only ten years old, highlighting the potential danger posed by the brothers’ presence in the community.

Both twins have extensive criminal histories. Ken Parker was convicted in 2005 of gross indecency with a boy under 16, indecent assault of a girl under 16, and another indecent assault involving a teenage boy. Thomas Parker, on the other hand, has convictions dating back to 1998 for indecent assault of a girl under 14, with additional similar convictions in France. Beyond their sexual offenses, the brothers are also known to have committed various non-sexual crimes, including breaches of the sex offenders’ register, which mandates a five-year prison sentence for such violations.

Currently, Thomas Parker remains in custody in France, with authorities seeking to determine the whereabouts of Ken Parker. The CEOP spokesperson confirmed, “Thomas Parker is in custody in France and the whereabouts of the other brother is still unknown. We are still asking people for any information that might lead to Ken Parker’s arrest.”

Adding a complex layer to their history, it has been revealed that both brothers served as mercenaries in conflict zones. In the early 1990s, Ken Parker, then residing in Stockingford, Warwickshire, was involved in military activities in Croatia, where he claimed to be a 'freedom fighter' despite being arrested and expelled from the country after a gunpoint encounter with terrorists. His brother Thomas, formerly from Leamington Spa, also fought for the Croatian army with the Rapid Response Group during the same period. Their past as soldiers-for-hire, fighting in Bosnia and Croatia, underscores their violent and unpredictable nature, which has now intersected with their criminal pursuits in the UK and France.

Both brothers are wanted for traveling abroad without informing authorities of their change of address, an offense that carries a potential five-year jail sentence. If apprehended, Thomas Parker faces possible deportation and imprisonment in the UK, with similar prospects for Ken if he is caught. The ongoing manhunt continues to be a priority for law enforcement agencies determined to bring these dangerous individuals to justice and prevent any further harm.