A pensioner facing charges of raping a child has been arrested in the Canary Islands.
Frank Burgon, 76, from Hartlepool, was released on bail in the UK but used his brother’s passport to flee the country in November. Posing as his brother, he travelled through several countries before settling in Gran Canaria.
Spanish police arrested him on Sunday at an apartment in the holiday resort of Puerto Rico after a British neighbour alerted police in the UK who tipped off Spanish police.
Spanish officials are likely to charge him with identity theft. At the time of arrest, Burgon insisted he was his brother. The threat of fingerprint and tattoo checks were sufficient to make him admit his true identity.
Despite that new charge, he was flown to Madrid for an extradition hearing.
Once back in the UK, he will face charges of rape, attempted rape and three counts of indecent assault against a child.
A European Arrest Warrant was issued in July for the former fisherman when he missed three court hearings after denying the charges.
