A French au pair is on the run from police in the UK despite regularly updating her Facebook profile and continuing to offer her services as a nanny.

Emeline Essertel is wanted by detectives in South Wales after failing to appear in court in March to face charges relating to fraud, stealing a debit card and possessing CS gas. This is generally used as a riot control agent.

The theft charge relates to a cash card stolen from a family home, near Cardiff, in which she was living in January.

Her Facebook page is being kept up-to-date on her travels 

The 24-year-old had been bailed to an address in London but fled back to France prompting officers to launch an appeal for information last month. Since that time her Facebook profile has been updated on several occasions.

As well as uploading photographs of a rugby final in Dublin between French sides Clermont and Toulon, images of a two-week break in Amsterdam and a night out with friends have also been posted.

Essertel snapped this photo on Dublin's Grafton Street

An advert on a recruitment website, which she last logged into on April 16th said "It will be eight months since I returned to France to complete my nursing degree and I would (like to) go back to see other countries to learn new cultures and be able to speak English (as soon as) possible.

"I want to assure you (of) my experience with children. During my studies I was able to do internships in various hospitals, primary schools and retirement homes."

Police sources said officers have been aware of the possibility that Essertel may have skipped the country "quite a while ago".