'most wanted' appeals in the Malaga region of Southern Spain 13 out of 30 British fugitives have been recaptured.

British ex-pats in Spain are being urged to join in the hunt for the 10 most wanted villains on the run from UK justice. Skip related content
Related photos / videos Hunt For Criminals On The Costa All the criminals are thought to be hiding among the thousands of Brits who have settled in Alicante and the towns and villages along the Costa Blanca.

Some of the fugitives will have disguised themselves, some will be using aliases. All are described as "dangerous".

They are wanted for various crimes, including kidnap, attempted murder, sex offences, extortion and fraud.

"These people are living in Spain, using the ex-pat community as cover and in most cases carrying on their criminality which is having an effect in Spain and in the UK," said Bill Hughes, director general of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

His investigators have tracked their targets so far with surveillance and informants, but now need the public's help in locating them.


Mr Hughes said: "Our message to these criminals is that you will not escape to the Sun, we will find you and bring you back."

The fugitives include company boss Dean Rice, 47, who jumped bail last year before he was sentenced to life for conspiracy to kidnap an employee he had accused of stealing money.

His victim said Rice's firm, Erith Storage in Kent, was a front for drug smuggling and described how he was abducted by a gang at gunpoint and driven to a deserted farm near Ashford, where he was beaten, tied up and interrogated by Rice.

A couple even appear on the most wanted list - Anthony Kearney, 43, and his partner Donna McCafferty, 41, are wanted in Scotland for fraud.

Anyone who spots a fugitive is asked to ring a dedicated Crimestoppers hotline that will be answered by staff in the UK.

The number to call from Spain is 900 555 111. All calls are anonymous.

Information can also be passed on via the Crimestoppers website.

In previous 'most wanted' appeals in the Malaga region of Southern Spain 13 out of 30 British fugitives have been recaptured.