Fugitive arrested in Tenerife six years after fleeing the UK

One of Britain's most wanted criminals was arrested in Tenerife on Monday after fleeing the UK six years ago.

Convicted rapist Mohammed Alam, 33, was sentenced to 14 years in his absence in March 2010 after subjecting a woman to a sickening attack in Cheltenham.

Extradition proceedings are due to begin at the Spanish national court in Madrid on Wednesday.

The Bangladeshi national was featured in the Operation Captura - a notorious fugitive campaign run by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Crimestoppers.

He was caught by Spanish police at a restaurant in Playa de las Americas, a holiday resort in the south west of the Canary island.

Detective Sergeant Paul Howell, of Gloucestershire police, said: "We hope this result shows criminals that they will be convicted even if they try to get away and escape under the radar."

It follows the arrest of suspected paedophile Matthew Sammon, another on the most wanted list, who was captured in Fuengirola in the Costa del Sol last Thursday.

Steve Reynolds, NCA Head of International Operations, said: "Locating and arresting Alam after he had been on the run for six years is a fantastic result.

"This was a team effort to get justice for his victim and he will now be returned to the UK to serve a 14-year jail term."

The NCA said in a tweet they had now caught 78 out of 96 fugitives on the most wanted Spain list.

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