Fugitive caught putting bet on in Sunderland bookies - police thank public as they continue search for other wanted men

Northumbria Police released the images in May of a dozen offenders who were all wanted on prison recall after breaching their licence.

Officers said in the month that followed, a flurry of calls came from residents who passed on key information about their whereabouts – and six of those have since been arrested or handed themselves in voluntarily.

They were each returned to prison.

Superintendent Paul Milner, of Northumbria Police said one crook was spotted having a flutter in a bookies in Sunderland, while another wanted male brazenly walked past Forth Banks Police Station in Newcastle – resulting in a short walk to a custody cell.

Other calls included giving one of the men ‘the shock of his life’ when officers turned up at a house in South Shields and gratefully met him at the door.

Now police are hoping to maintain the momentum by recirculating the images of the six outstanding fugitives and have asked the public to pull together once more to assist their search.

The men who remain outstanding and who are evading arrest are:

:: Craig Murray 31, of Sunderland

:: David Wilson, 42, of Sunderland

:: Mark Thompson, 37, of Jarrow

:: Lee Ferguson, 36, of Wallsend

:: Peter Laws, 38, of Newcastle

:: Jack Quinn, 25, of no fixed abode, formerly of Gateshead

Superintendent Paul Milner, of Northumbria Police, said: “We are delighted with the response since our appeal to the public last month regarding these fugitives.

“We received a number of calls from communities across Northumbria with possible sightings and a list of addresses where they may be staying in a bid to lay low.

“Six of our long-term wanted suspects have since been located, with four arrested and the other two handing themselves in voluntarily after seeing their pictures posted across social media.

“The net is tightening on these outstanding six men and I am today recirculating their pictures in another push for information from the public.

“We are continuing to search various addresses in a bid to locate them, and it is only a matter of time before they are found and returned to prison.

“I would ask these six men to do the right thing and hand themselves in at the nearest opportunity, as well as remind people that harbouring a fugitive is a criminal offence that could result in you receiving a prison sentence.

“We are passionate about the communities we serve and would like to thank you all for your ongoing support. By working together, we can continue to detect and disrupt criminal activity and ensure the North East remains a safe place to live and work.”

Anyone with information about any of the men pictured are asked to call 101 quoting log 349 270521 or via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website.

Alternatively you can pass on information via independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by ringing 0800 555 111.

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