Fugitive's 14 years on the run end at Northumberland hotel

Jan 18 2010 The Journal

A FUGITIVE who evaded police for more than 14 years is back behind bars after a tip-off from a hotel guest in Northumberland.

The 41-year-old, who has not been named, was finally cornered by police in Newcastle’s West End at the weekend after escaping from prison in 1996.

He was finally caught after a 999 call was made from a guest room at the Otterburn Tower Hotel, at around 1.20am on Saturday.

A woman in her 30s, who was also believed to have been staying at the hotel, was arrested on suspicion of harbouring an offender.

When officers arrived they found a man, who had checked in to stay at the hotel overnight, was missing. Further investigations revealed he was a wanted fugitive who had been on the run since a prison-break 14 years ago.

Police swamped the hotel and launched a full-scale search operation along with mountain rescue teams.

Fears had initially grown for the man’s safety after he left the hotel without warm clothing.

It is believed a couple had booked into the hotel under false names before a domestic dispute broke out.

Hotel owner John Goodfellow was woken at around 2.15am by officers after the 999 call was made.

Mr Goodfellow said: “We had the couple staying here and then the bloke just stormed off. A lady had dialled 999 for the police and then I was woken up at 2.15am. They were looking for a gentleman who had gone missing from the hotel. They were taking it very seriously.

“We were very concerned for his welfare because of the weather. The mountain rescue people also set up an incident room at the hotel.”

The Otterburn Tower Hotel is one of the region’s top establishments and boasts 18 bedrooms and a restaurant. The country hotel is renowned as one of the North East’s finest. It joins Matfen Hall in an elite band of North restaurants to have been given two rosettes by the AA in its most recent hotel guide fine food section.

A spokesperson from Northumbria Police said: “At 1.20am police received a report of a 41-year-old man who left the Otterburn Tower Hotel, in Otterburn, following an argument.

“Due to the bad weather conditions, heavy rain and high winds, and the man not wearing suitable clothing, police, supported by search and rescue teams, carried out a search operation.

“As a result of inquiries a 41-year-old man was arrested in the West End of Newcastle for absconding from prison. A woman in her 30s was also arrested on suspicion of harbouring an offender.”

It is still not clear for what the 41-year-old was serving prison time for and his details have yet to be released by Northumbria Police. It comes after another case when in 2008 killer Lee Nevins eluded frantic police searches for six days when he gave blundering prison guards the slip.