Escaped prisoner recaptured

Buy photos » Daniel O'Loughlin has been recaptured after six months on the run.

A HIGH-profile burglar has been recaptured after six months on the run.

Daniel O'Loughlin, who has strong links to Evesham, was arrested at a hotel in Coventry last Wednesday (January 25) following a joint operation by Gloucestershire and West Midlands Police forces.

The 35-year-old had been wanted since last July when he failed to return to HMP Hatfield in South Yorkshire after he was given temporary release for a work placement within the community.

O'Loughlin was taken to Cheltenham Police Station and charged with being unlawfully at large and appeared before magistrates in the town on Saturday (January 28).

A 26-year-old woman from Cheltenham was also arrested on suspicion of harbouring an escaped prisoner in connection with the case and was bailed to attend Gloucester Police Station on February 22.

When he went on the run, O'Loughlin was serving the final period of a prison sentence he received for his role in an organised crime group who committed a series of high-profile and high-vale burglaries at large country houses across central and western England.

They also targeted Cottage Garden Nurseries in Evesham and a number of other properties throughout Worcestershire in the crime spree.

O'Loughlin was jailed in August 2008 for his part in the conspiracy and in May 2010 a court ordered him to pay back £113,000 which was deemed to be gained from criminal activity.

Det Insp Alastair Armstrong from Gloucestershire Constabulary, who led the operation to arrest O'Loughlin, said: "Locating O'Loughlin has been a difficult task but I hope this shows how committed we've been to tracking him down with our partner forces.

"We're pleased to have him back in custody and off the streets so he can't cause any harm in our communities."