So....it turns out the "weird" guy that approached my wife and daughter a few weeks back (grrrr'ed about on this very thread) is an actual sex offender and known problem in his area. Seems he's venturing further afield.
Spoken to another woman we know, that has also had a run in with him, that by coincidence works near where this scum-bag lives and she's been told some of his history.
Scary, scary stuff.
Turns out that because we live on the very edge of our county the police force we reported him to didn't know about him but the next one over certainly does.
All largely rumour at the moment because the police are being very clever at saying very little while leaving lots to read between the lines.
Our friend was referred to the sex offenders officer for example without being told exactly what the guy had done.
Seems our run in could have gone a lot worse than it did.