Michael McCartney. Photograph courtesy of the NCA
One of the UK’s 13 most wanted criminals has been been caught after fleeing to Spain.
Michael McCartney, 78, was detained in Alicante in southern Spain just hours after his face and name were published by the National Crime Agency.
McCartney was convicted of abusing three boys after grooming them by buying them gifts their parents could not afford. He was found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child and inciting sexual activity involving penetration in March 2013, but failed to attend court the following month for sentencing and has been on the run ever since.
Spanish police arrested him after “intelligence” on his whereabouts came to light, likely after someone seeing his face publicised as one of the UK’s most wanted. A National Crime Agency spokesman said:
Acting on intelligence, officers from the Spanish National Police arrested convicted sex offender Michael McCartney at an address in Alicante at around 4.30pm.
He will now appear before a Spanish court where extradition proceedings will begin.
