Convicted pedophile 'Swirl Face' agrees to strict release conditions in Canada

Convicted pedophile Christopher Neil leaves Richmond Provincial court in Richmond, B.C., Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

RICHMOND, B.C. -- The B.C. man convicted in Thailand for sexually abusing a child has agreed to abide by strict conditions in order to be released into Canadian society.

The lawyer for Christopher Neil told a B.C. provincial court judge in Richmond, B.C., that the 37-year-old will agree to follow a series of conditions that would allow the man his freedom.

Christopher Neil pleaded guilty and spent five years in a Thai prison after an international manhunt was triggered when computer experts unscrambled an image of him abusing children.

The Crown is asking that the bail-like conditions be in place for two years, while the defence has asked for 18 months, however, the judge says legalities of what is permitted must still be sorted out.

Neil faces no charges in Canada, but police arrested him when he arrived at Vancouver's airport last week using a section of the Criminal Code aimed at protecting public safety.

The conditions Neil is expected to abide by would include surrendering his passport, staying away from places where children under 16 years old would congregate and not having access to the Internet.