One of Britain's most wanted fugitives gives police officers the slip hours after he is named as a suspect

  • Brian Thexton, 37, seen in white Vauxhall Insignia in Lancaster yesterday
  • When an officer approached, criminal trapped his arm and drove off
  • Officer freed himself before car sped off narrowly missing pedestrians
  • Thexton on a list of Britain's most wanted believed to be hiding in Spain
  • Involved in robberies where a gang would tie up homeowners, it is alleged

By Lizzie Edmonds

PUBLISHED: 13:12 EST, 16 November 2013 | UPDATED: 13:24 EST, 16 November 2013


Brian Thexton, 37, from Durham, was allegedly spotted in Lancashire yesterday driving a white Vauxhall

Brian Thexton, 37, from Durham, was allegedly spotted in Lancashire yesterday driving a white Vauxhall

A fugitive thought to be hiding in Spain has been seen in the north of England, it was alleged today.

It is claimed that Brian Thexton, 37, was seen in a white Vauxhall Insignia at around 9am yesterday in Lancaster, Lancashire.

It is alleged that Thexton was involved in a series of robberies where homeowners would be tied up and forced to disclose alarm codes and safe combinations.

An officer then walked over to the car to speak to the driver and reached into the vehicle to remove the keys from the ignition, a Lancashire Police spokesman said.

'At this point the car was driven away, trapping the officer's arm and dragging him a short distance down the road.

'Fortunately, the officer freed himself before he was seriously injured. The car was then driven away at speed, mounting the kerb, narrowly missing pedestrians,' they added.

It was found a short time later having been set on fire on Fernham Carr Lane.

Detective Inspector Bev Foster said: 'Following the incident, we have set up a team of officers dedicated to tracking this person down and we are liaising with a number of other forces across England as well as the National Crime Agency.

'We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity on Fernham Carr Lane, or perhaps may have seen the vehicle being abandoned to get in touch as soon as possible.

'This man has shown himself to be dangerous and to have very little regard for his actions and so we would ask the public to be vigilant and not to approach him but report any sightings to the police immediately - any details the public may have could be crucial.

Robert Mortby is sought by police on suspicion of attempted murder,

Robert Mortby, 26, is sought by police on suspicion of attempted murder over an attack on a man outside a pub in Elephant and Castle, south London.

Keith Turner, 60, from Northumbria (pictured, left, in his early 40s and, right, in an artists impression of him aged 57)

Keith Turner, 60, from Northumbria (pictured, left, in his early 40s and, right, in an artist's impression of him aged 57) is sought by police for four offences of obtaining property by deception. He was released on licence in 1993 after serving 20 years in jail for the manslaughter of his mother and sister

'If anyone thinks they have seen him or if they have any information at all, then I would urge them to come forward and contact us.'

Thexton is on a list issued on Thursday of 13 of Britain's most wanted criminals thought to be hiding in Spain.

 

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He is accused of being involved in robberies where a gang would tie up homeowners and force them to give up alarm codes and safe combinations.

In one the gang impersonated police officers to dupe the victims into opening the door, before brandishing a pick axe handle and a baseball bat.

Daniel Bowes, 43, from London, was allegedly a senior figure in a cocaine smuggling ring

Daniel Bowes, 43, from London, was allegedly a senior figure in a cocaine smuggling ring, acting as a go-between for the head of the gang with contacts and delivery drivers. He is wanted on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine

Christopher Mealey, 37, from London, is accused of being a member of the same cocaine smuggling ring as Daniel Bowes

Christopher Mealey, 37, from London, is accused of being a member of the same cocaine smuggling ring as Daniel Bowes. The gang was allegedly involved in smuggling the Class A drug from the Netherlands to the UK

He is also awaiting trial for conspiracy to supply cocaine, over claims that he was the middleman in the sale of half a kilo of the drug, and had admitted conspiring to steal cars and machinery.

The list was published as part of Operation Captura, a scheme to trace criminals who are thought to have fled to Spain.

Other individuals on the list include Robert Mortby, 26, from London, who is suspected of the attempted murder of a man shot outside a pub in South London in July last year.

Ian Stanton, 42, from Liverpool, is the suspected leader of a £90million cocaine smuggling ring which brought in more than 400kg of the drug to the UK hidden in a shipment of beef in May.

Captured: Michael McCartney, 78, found guilty of sexually assaulting three boys, has been arrested in Spain

Michael McCartney, 78, is thought to have spent eight months in hiding on Costa Del Crime. He was found guilty of sexually assaulting three boys and was arrested in Spain hours after the most wanted list was released

Ian Stanton, 42, from Liverpool, is accused of being part of a drugs gang that tried to smuggle more than 400kg of cocaine into the UK

Ian Stanton, 42, from Liverpool, is accused of being part of a drugs gang that tried to smuggle more than 400kg of cocaine into the UK hidden in a shipment of Argentinian beef. The drugs were discovered at Tilbury docks in Essex in May

Daniel Bowes, 43, and Christopher Mealey, 37, both from London, are alleged to be part of a gang importing cocaine from the Netherlands between March 2011 and January 2012.

Stephen Blundell, 35, went on the run after being convicted of supplying heroin from his home in Liverpool to Devon.

David Hewson, 31, also fled Liverpool after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine in September last year.

Robert Knight, 52, from Walsall, is accused of being part of a conspiracy to smuggle 6kg of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Heathrow in April 2008.

David Mather, 57, from Manchester absconded before he was sentenced to 18 years in January after a drugs bust at Humber Sea Terminal where 32 packages of heroin were found hidden in a lorry.

Serbian Daniel Dugic, 32, is accused of organising a drug smuggling operation involving 255kg of cocaine.

David Mather, 57, from Manchester, was convicted of conspiracy to import heroin and sentenced to 18 years in his absence

David Mather, 57, from Manchester, was convicted of conspiracy to import heroin and sentenced to 18 years in his absence. Caught after a lorry containing 32 packets of the drug stuffed in the bumper was stopped at Humber sea terminal

Lee Willis, 30, from Ashton Under Lyne admitted possessing cocaine and cannabis in March this year but went on the run before he was due to be sentenced in June.

Lee Willis, 30, from Ashton Under Lyne admitted possessing cocaine and cannabis in March this year but went on the run before he was due to be sentenced in June. He is also accused of dealing the class A drug

Robert Knight, 52, from Walsall, is accusing of helping to arrange for 6kg of cocaine to be smuggled to Heathrow Airport from the Dominican Republic in 2008

Robert Knight, 52, from Walsall, is accusing of helping to arrange for 6kg of cocaine to be smuggled to Heathrow Airport from the Dominican Republic in 2008. Five others have been arrested and charged

Daniel Dugic, a 32-year-old Serb, is also accused of trying to smuggle cocaine into the UK

Daniel Dugic, 32, from Serbia, is accused of trying to smuggle cocaine into the UK. He allegedly plotted a deal where a boat would meet a container ship in the English Channel to collect 255kg of the drug

Lee Willis, 30, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty in March to possession of cocaine and possession of cannabis with intent to supply but went on the run after being given bail.

Keith Turner, 60, is sought by police for four offences of obtaining property by deception.

Michael McCartney, 78, was found guilty of sexually assaulting three boys and was arrested in Spain hours after the list was released.

People with information can contact police by calling 101, or can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Comments (4)

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Judging by the look of him - I guess it's OK, isn't it?

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How many were out on bail? All of them?

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In this day and age, you'd have thought there'd be some women in there. Plain sexist.

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"This man has shown himself to be dangerous and to have very little regard for his actions and so we would ask the public to be vigilant and not to approach him". Whch is exactly what the officer did! He could have been killed!

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