SENIOR cops watched on as a gangland paedophile took a 13-year-old boy to his flat as they wanted to carry out more surveillance, it is claimed.

One of the Greater Manchester Police officers - who let crime boss Dominic Noonan spend two hours with the schoolboy - later told superiors that he was "haunted" by his failure to intervene, it has been reported.

2 Noonan was jailed last month after being found guilty of 13 historic sex crimes against four young boys Credit: GMP

The Times claim the officers were ordered not to act by senior staff, who didn't want to jeopardise the undercover operation.

Commanding officer Dominic Scally was later promoted to head of counter-terrorism policing for the North West, the paper reports.

Noonan was jailed last month after being found guilty of 13 historic sex crimes against four young boys.

At the time of the 2011 operation, cops reportedly beleived he routinely carried out sexual assaults to punish those who failed to follow his orders.

2 One of the Greater Manchester Police officers - who let crime boss Dominic Noonan spend two hours with the schoolboy - later told superiors that he was 'haunted' by his failure to intervene Credit: PA:Press Association

Greater Manchester police kicked off the Noonan probe - dubbed Operation Nixon - in early 2011.

The operation remained undercover despite officers raising concerns that it presented unnecessary risks to potential victims.

The Times claim an undercover team were watching Noonan's flat when he entered the property with the lad and an unidentified man.

He then closed the windows and curtains - even though it was a warm day.

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It is claimed officers asked HQ if they should carry out a safeguarding operation - but were advised to send local uniformed police to the flat under the pretence of having received a concerned call from a member of the public.

This suggestion was reportedly never carried out.

A spokeswoman for the force confirmed to The Times that a referral was made to the IPCC in relation to allegations that officers failed to make adequate plans to protect a vulnerable child during a covert operation into child sex abuse .

An IPCC investigation later cleared two officers of gross misconduct after concluded there was “no suggestion at the time, or since, that anyone was harmed during the meeting”.

Noonan has always denied sexual abuse offences

The Irish Sun steps into the disturbing world of paedophile hunting with Dark Justice

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