Eight years for on-the-run counterfeiter
23 October 2009
A counterfeiter who was sentenced in his absence after going on the run was back in court today, four years later, to officially start his eight year prison term.
Ronald Priestly fled to Spain in 2005 after his involvement in a £4.25m banknote fraud was uncovered. He was detained earlier this month by Spanish police under a European Arrest Warrant as part of the Crimestoppers’ Operation Captura.
Crimestoppers and SOCA work closely with Spanish law enforcement agencies to target UK fugitives who head for the ‘Costa del Crime’ and bring them back to face justice. Since it launched in October 2006, Operation Captura has named 50 fugitives. Ronald Priestly is the 25th to be arrested and brought home.
Find out more about Operation Captura at the Crimestoppers website