Runaway criminal surrenders in Spain

A fugitive named in a scheme targeting criminals on the run in Spain has handed himself in, a Crimestoppers spokeswoman said today.

Andrew Arthur Alderman walked into the British consulate in Madrid earlier today.

The 49-year-old, from Canterbury, is wanted by Kent Police following a conviction for indecent assault and rape of a girl under the age of 16.

Alderman was named as part of Operation Captura 2 which saw Crimestoppers and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) issue descriptions of criminals believed to be hiding in the Costa Blanca area around Alicante.

He is the third fugitive to be arrested in Spain following the launch of the operation on 6 November.

Anthony Kearney and Donna McCafferty, both wanted for fraud offences, were detained in Alicante the day after the scheme was launched.

Their details were among those posted online on the Most Wanted section of the Crimestoppers website - www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, the charity has received more than a million calls, resulting in over 87,000 arrests and charges.

Anyone with information about any of the individuals in Operation Captura 2 can call the freephone Spanish 900 555 111 telephone number.

Information can also be passed on anonymously via the Crimestoppers website.