Locations
Wilderspool Causeway, Walton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4
Description
POLICE hunting a convicted rapist who was on the run after escaping from prison have made an arrest.
Sex offender Daniel Thompson, from Warrington, absconded from an open prison in south Gloucester.
The 34-year-old was last seen at HMP Leyhill at 11.45am yesterday, Friday, where he was serving a sentence for raping a woman in Warrington in 2009.
However police say he was found and arrested near to Leyhill in South Gloucester by Avon and Somerset Police earlier today, Saturday.
Thompson, of Wilderspool Causeway, raped his victim twice after he forced his way into her flat in April 2009 as she returned from volunteering at her church.
He was given an indeterminate sentence by the courts after the hearing - in one of the worst attacks of recent times.
The jury, which consisted of five women and seven men, heard during the six-day trial there was a one in a billion chance that blood found on defendant Daniel Thompsons sweatshirt belonged to anyone other than the victim or one of her relations.
Judge Stephen Clarke said: These were horrific offences. In the scale of rape they were in the most serious bracket.
The evidence was extremely strong, if not overwhelming.
When she (the victim) was giving evidence on a number of occasions she was actually physically sick.
A police statement said: "If you see Daniel Thompson, who may be using the name Gavin Barry, in Warrington or elsewhere in Cheshire do not approach him.
"Instead call us on 999, quoting IML 484890.
"Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
We also want to hear from anyone who has any information regarding his whereabouts."