Paedophile among top ten most wanted arrested
A suspected paedophile has been detained in the Costa Del Sol just hours after appearing on a top ten most wanted list.
A suspected paedophile has been detained in the Costa Del Sol just hours after appearing on a top ten most wanted list.
Matthew Sammon, 45, from London was arrested at a fairground in Fuengirola just hours after the list of the most wanted British fugitives living in Spain was published.
Mr Sammon is accused of making and possessing indecent photographs of children.
The list is part of a joint UK-Spanish campaign targeting the National Crime Agencys (NCA) most wanted in Spain called Operation Captura.
Since its launch, 75 of the 86 criminals identified have been arrested and the public is being asked to assist in the capture of the rest.
A four metre sign with the faces of the criminals is currently touring areas such as Benidorm, Malaga and Puerto.
A tip-off from his former boss led police to find Sammon at a fairground at 8pm last night (October 20) and he was arrested as he was returning home from walking his dog.
He had been living in a camper van and working as a labourer since he fled Britain after being arrested two years ago.
Daniel Reid, who notified police of Sammons whereabouts, told The Sun: As soon as I saw his face among the most wanted I felt sick.
I let him hang around my children, we took him in with open arms and at first were none the wiser.
But we always thought he was a bit weird, hes a real loner and never talks about his family.
He creeped me and my family out so much that I fired him.
Extradition proceedings are underway and he is set to be appearing in court in Madrid later today.
Steve Reynolds, head of international operations for the NCA, said: We asked the public to help us find our most wanted fugitives and this early result the same day we launched our campaign shows the system works.??
The Spanish National Police were able to respond quickly to a tip off about Matthew Sammons location and he was arrested last night in Fuengirola. As we have always said, Spain is not a safe haven.
“I`m delighted at the speed we have made the first arrest.”