Four North East fugitives arrested thanks to help from the public but two men are still wanted

Officers had released the pictures of six men who were wanted in connection with serious offences alleged to have been committed across Northumbria.

Despite the lockdown rules, none of the men had been residing at their home address and were believed to have been purposely avoiding police.

In a bid to locate them, detectives launched an appeal last week for anyone with any information to come forward.

The community responded, offering vital intelligence that assisted officers in their hunt for the alleged perpetrators.

Police have now confirmed that four of the six men have been arrested – with many handing themselves in after seeing their face on social media and in the media.

Northumbria Police Superintendent Jonathan Bensley, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the public’s response to this appeal and I would like to thank everybody who came forward with information that assisted our officers to locate these fugitives.

“Four men who featured in last week’s appeal have now been located and interviewed in connection with a range of offences, and inquiries into those cases are very much ongoing.

“We will continue to use every tactic at our disposal in order to detect and disrupt crime, locate anybody suspected to be involved in criminality and keep our communities safe.”

Among those detained was Ricardo Antonio, 27, who was wanted in connection with a breach of a restraining order.

He was arrested and appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside on April 29, where he received an 18-month community order and a further restraining order until October 2021.

A 30-year-old from Houghton-le-Spring handed himself in to officers at his local police station after being wanted in relation to a public order offence, while a 32-year-old from the Downhill area of Sunderland wanted in connection with an assault was also brought into custody.

Both men have been released on police bail and inquiries are ongoing.

A 31-year-old man who was wanted in connection with an assault and criminal damage was also arrested by officers, and has since been released under investigation.

Searches are ongoing to trace two outstanding suspects – Connor Crute, 21, of Walker, or Thomas Laws, 40, of North Shields, to come forward and speak to police.

Crute is wanted in relation to burglary offences in North Tyneside, while Laws is wanted in connection with an assault and a burglary.

Supt Bensley added: “Avoiding police is doing them no favours and I would encourage them to hand themselves in as soon as possible.

“I would like to reiterate that it is a criminal offence to harbour someone who is evading arrest, and we do not want anybody to get into trouble on the account of these individuals.

“Please do not leave your home specifically to search for these suspects, but if you are out on an essential journey and see these men, please pick up the phone and get in touch.”

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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