Sex offender who went on run from court was fleeing to eastern Europe

A former law lecturer and convicted sex offender who went on the run from court had been planning to flee to eastern Europe, police have said.

Julian Myerscough, 53, a former criminal law lecturer at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, absconded from Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.

The jury was considering verdicts over allegations of downloading child pornography and breaching a sexual offences prevention order at the time.

Myerscough, originally from Bolton but who was living in Lowestoft, Suffolk, was found guilty of all counts shortly after disappearing, Suffolk Police said.

A spokesman for An Garda Siochana in Ireland confirmed he was spotted travelling on a ferry from Holyhead to Dublin at lunchtime on Thursday.

He added: "A European extradition warrant was expeditiously obtained and he was arrested at a city centre hotel this morning.

"Gardai had established he had booked a flight to Budapest, Hungary, for later today but due to the close co-operation between the Irish and UK authorities, his efforts to evade justice were foiled."

Suffolk Police originally said Myerscough had boarded a train travelling between Ipswich and London Liverpool Street at 1.43pm.

When officers from British Transport Police checked the train in London, there was no sign of him.

"Suffolk Police would like to thank the members of the public and the media for their assistance with this appeal," a spokesman said.

Myerscough was convicted of similar offences in 2010 when he was given a 15-month prison sentence.

He is expected to appear before the High Court in Dublin later this afternoon.