Investigators tracked down a convicted Britsh sex offender to a strip club in Quarteira after he had breached his licence conditions in the UK and fled to Portugal.
The investigators tracked Nigel Burnell to the bar in Quarteira having tracked him to Portugal. Former detective Mark Williams-Thomas was working for an ITV documentary ‘On The Run’ which traces wanted criminals.
After serving 16 months for an undisclosed offence Burnell, a 49-year old from Bridgend, South Wales, fled the UK in 2010 in breach of his conditions.
Once Burnell was found working in Quarteira the investigator could not persuade Portuguese police to help, “There is clearly a communication issue between British police and Portuguese police. Portuguese police say he is not on the system, they can’t find him on the Interpol system or the European database. South Wales Police say he is wanted and they want him arrested and returned to the UK. This is a man that has been on the run for a long time, yet he is out there because of an administrative issue.”
The British police was up to date with warrants, “South Wales Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency confirmed an international arrest had been circulated and was up to date yet the Portuguese police seem unwilling or unable to act,” said Williams-Thomas.
The investigator needed Portuguese officers to come to the planned meeting with his target so Burnell could be arrested. Without the help of local police in Portugal, Burnell was able to remain free.
Since the show was filmed, the law has caught up with Burnell who was arrested and later sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court in July to a further 15 months in jail after being charged with two counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order.
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'On The Run' is on ITV Wales at 9pm on Tuesday 29th October 2013
