Costa ‘killer’ hunt
Jan 24 2008 by Paul James, The Journal
THE man wanted for a gangland killing on Tyneside two years ago has been named among 10 suspected criminals hiding in the “Costa del Crime”.
Police believe Allan Foster flew from his Spanish hideaway to assassinate David ‘Noddy’ Rice in South Shields in May 2006 with a silenced semi-automatic gun.
It is thought he flew back out of the country the day after the killing, at a seaside car park near Marsden Grotto, and has remained a fugitive since.
Yesterday Foster, 31, was named among 10 suspects who will be posted by Crimestoppers on a most-wanted website targeting the Costa del Sol.
The 10 include other men wanted for murder, serious violent offences, robbery and for their roles in multi-million pound drug trafficking rings.
The Spanish coastal resorts have been dubbed the Costa del Crime since the 1970s because hundreds of wanted British criminals are thought to have fled there.
Mr Rice, 42, was shot nine times by two masked men on the seafront at South Tyneside after being lured to the meeting by Steven Bevens, 39. Bevens worked for Foster, who police believe fired the fatal shots.
Last year Bevens was sentenced to life with a minimum of 26 years behind bars for murder, while getaway driver Derek Blackburn, 51, of Humberside, who turned informer on the duo, was given four years for assisting an offender, later cut to two and a half-years.
Police believe it was Foster, described as a major player on the international drugs scene, who actually pulled the trigger.
He sometimes goes under the name Sean Wilkinson, and is known to have associates in the Kent area, and links to the Canary Islands and Majorca.
Foster is also wanted for two offences of conspiring to supply controlled drugs and also for the theft of a diamond ring.
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the Spanish police authorities are involved in the latest appeal, codenamed Operation Captura.
Bill Hughes of Soca said: “British crooks who thought they could enjoy a yachts and villas lifestyle in Spain have received a nasty shock. Many of them are now experiencing a rather different lifestyle at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
“Soca has worked with Crimestoppers and the Spanish to bring these criminals to justice but we couldn’t have done it without the help of the public.”
Northumbria Police Det Supt Barbara Franklin, who led the investigation into Mr Rice’s death, yesterday said: “This inquiry will not stop until all those involved in Mr Rice’s death are arrested and stand trial for what was a callous and cold-blooded assassination.
“Officers are still working on this inquiry and our main priority is still to trace Allan Foster.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Northumbria Police on 08456 043043, ext. 66333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
