This is Grimsby --A PENSIONER who fled the country after being convicted of abusing a young girl has been arrested on the Costa del Sol.
Detectives from Spain's National Police force detained 82-year-old Kenneth Wright, from Holton-le-Clay, at a villa complex in the coastal resort of Calahonda, east of Marbella.
When officers found him, he gave a false identity, the National Police said yesterday.
An international search warrant seeking extradition was issued against Wright following his conviction for sexually abusing a minor over a seven-year period.
He is expected to be interviewed by an investigating judge at the National Criminal Court in Madrid, which handles all extradition cases in Spain, today.
Wright, of Louth Road, was convicted in March following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court of two charges of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 and two of sexual activity with a child.
The case was adjourned for a report to be prepared by his doctor on his health and how he would cope with a prison sentence, given his age.
Despite facing prison, Wright was granted bail – and shortly afterwards he fled the country.
In his absence, the trial judge, Mr Justice John Saunders, decided to sentence him to eight years, and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
The court heard that if Wright began to serve his sentence and his health suffered drastically, there are provisions for the Home Secretary to intervene.
The judge outlined how Wright's offences against the girl began when she was nine.
The pensioner came into contact with her on a number of occasions, and his abuse of her continued for seven years.
If Wright agrees to return to the UK to face British justice, he will be escorted back to this country within a week.
But if he decides to fight extradition, he could face a long wait behind bars before a full hearing in front of three judges at the National Court. Reported by This is 7 hours ago.