WIREDGOV

A man responsible for a violent attack outside a pub in Greater Manchester in 2008 has been arrested in Hungary.

Thomas Tooth, 32, from Middleton, was detained on a European Arrest Warrant in Badacsonytoma on 15 February as a result of a joint operation involving the Hungarian Police, the National Crime Agency and Greater Manchester Police.

The victim of the attack at The Angel Public House in Royton was left with permanent eye damage and Tooth, who absconded, was convicted in his absence of unlawful wounding. He later featured in the Operation Return fugitive campaign as he spent time in the Netherlands while on the run.

Extradition proceedings are underway and Tooth will be sentenced when he returns to the UK.

He is the tenth fugitive to be arrested as part of Operation Return. There are currently four people outstanding.

Dave Allen, Head of the International Crime Bureau at the National Crime Agency, said: “Thomas Tooth is a violent criminal who wanted to evade justice by fleeing the country.

“If you are a fugitive on the NCA’s radar we will never give up, however long it takes. We will work with UK police forces and our international law enforcement partners to find you.”

Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, said: “Thomas Tooth featured in our campaign two years ago and was, in fact, convicted in his absence. I am delighted that he has eventually been caught and that he can now serve his sentence.

“I applaud the outstanding work of all the law enforcement agencies involved in locating Tooth, and would ask anyone with information on the remaining fugitives to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Operation Return is a multi-agency initiative involving the National Crime Agency, Crimestoppers UK, Bel M (Dutch Crimestoppers) and the Dutch authorities to capture British criminals believed to be on the run in the Netherlands.