Six most wanted British fugitives announced by Crimestoppers
Six most wanted British fugitives being hunted down in Netherlands following Crimestoppers appeal
Tuesday, 16, Mar 2010 03:15
By inthenews.co.uk staff.
The Crimestoppers charity has today announced six new most wanted British fugitives who are believed to be hiding in the Netherlands.
The six men include a convicted rapist, killer and robber who are all thought to be in Amsterdam.
The men were named by Crimestoppers as James Muldoon, Dion Lee, Brian Waite, Edward Morton, Rezgar Zanaga and Brian Bradshaw.
The charity said that following the success of the Spanish fugitive campaign, Operation Captura, it is now calling on the public to come forward with any information they might have on the six Netherlands-based criminals.
Operation Return is a multi-agency campaign involving the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), Crimestoppers UK, Meld Misdaad Anoniem/'M' (Dutch Crimestoppers) and Netherlands law enforcement.
The charity warned that the list includes some of the UK's most dangerous criminals wanted for crimes relating to drug-smuggling, the illegal sale of firearms, robbery, violence and rape.
Lord Ashcroft, chair of Crimestoppers, said: "These criminals think they're safe hiding in the Netherlands, but it takes only one call to Crimestoppers to bring them back to the UK to face justice."
Bradshaw, from Surrey, who tops the list, pleaded guilty to an offence of manslaughter and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment but absconded from prison.
The other five include Waite, who was convicted of robbery, arson and handling stolen goods but escaped from prison in 2006 and has been unlawfully at large since; Lee, who is currently wanted by Lancashire constabulary in relation to offences of conspiracy to supply class A and C drugs and conspiracy to possess, sell or transfer firearms and ammunition; Morton, who is suspected of being a pivotal member of an organised crime group concerned with the importation of Cocaine into the UK; Muldoon who was convicted of the robbery of £41,000 worth of goods from two lorries based in a haulage company depot in Grantham; and Zengana who was convicted of raping a 25-year-old woman.
David Armond, international director for Soca, commented: "Our experience in Spain proves that these campaigns make ex-pat communities a hostile environment for UK fugitives. We have already achieved some outstanding results with our Dutch partners; this appeal aims to build on this success and ensure that the Netherlands is not seen as an easy hiding place for UK criminals."
Anyone with any information on the six are urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 7000 in the Netherlands or 0800 555 111 in the UK.