Four suspected Scottish criminals are featured on a list of the ten most wanted British criminals on the run in Spain released by Crimestoppers

Four suspected Scottish criminals are featured on a list of the ten most wanted British criminals on the run in Spain released by Crimestoppers and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).

The list was issued as part of a joint operation with the Spanish authorities, in the hope that the expatriate and holidaying public can help bring identify the criminals and bring them to justice.

Spain has traditionally been a popular hideaway for British criminals on the run, and the list focuses on criminals believed to be hiding in the Costa Blanca area around Alicante.

The message from the authorities now is that with improved extradition treaties and relationships, suspects can be brought back more easily to face trial from the ‘Costa del Crime’.

Bill Hughes, Director General of Soca, said: "This is an innovative partnership which is proving to be very successful, and is delivering a simple message to criminals; you won't escape to the sun, we will find you and bring you back."

The appeal follows the launch of Operation Captura in October 2006 in the Costa del Sol where descriptions of 30 criminals were released resulting in 13 arrests.

The Scottish suspects are:

Thomas Cochran, 50, wanted on drug offences.
He's 5ft-11, with a tattoo of a dagger on his right arm and is known to use the name Thomas Caldwell.

Alan McDonald Gordon, 46, wanted on drug charges.
He's 6ft-2, has blue eyes and his left ear is pierced.

Anthony Kearney, 43, wanted for fraud.
He's 5ft 9in with blue eyes and uses as many as nine aliases, including Philip Hanscombe.

Donna McCafferty, 41, accused of working with Kearney.
She's 5ft 6in with blue/green eyes and uses five different names.