Singapore, Dec 29 - A paedophile was put under a 10-year preventive detention for molesting six young girls, including a one-year-old toddler, the Straits Times reported Tuesday.

But Salim Abdul Rahman escaped the mandatory caning for his crimes because he had turned 50 years old Dec 20, and under the law that punishment can only be meted out to those under 50.

Salim pleaded guilty Dec 8, after a psychiatrist diagnosed him with paedophilia. He had confessed to having the urge to touch young girls twice a week.

The Singapore district court was told that Salim would target 7- to 9-year-olds by pretending to ask them for directions or offering them food before molesting his victims. He committed the offences between March and September this year. (dpa)