Yorkshire criminals on 'most wanted' fugitive list

Crimestoppers revealed today that Leeds men Brian Waite and Edward Morton are among six fugitives known to be on the run in the Netherlands.

Waite, 39, was serving an 11-year jail sentence for robbery, arson and handling stolen goods when he escaped from prison in 2006.

He was jailed after taking part in the robbery of 25,000 from a Securicor van and torching the stolen getaway vehicle.

Detective Inspector Peter Darbyshire, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "Brian Waite is a member of a West Yorkshire organised crime group.

"His serious criminality caused harm to a number of communities throughout the UK."

Morton, 36, is thought to be a "pivotal" member of a gang involved in importing cocaine into the UK. Police believe he has also conspired to supply amphetamines.

Crimestoppers, together with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Dutch officials, have launched a campaign, Operation Return, calling on the public to provide information on the wanted men.

It follows a similar fugitive campaign, Operation Captura, which helped police find British criminals hiding in Spanish hotspots.

Crimestoppers chairman Lord Ashcroft said: "We are hoping that the public respond as well to this appeal as they have done for our campaign in Spain, which has resulted in a high number of arrests.

"This success has proved that there is no safe hiding place from the eyes of the law and with the public's help we can flush out these dangerous criminals from wherever they are hiding."

SOCA's international director David Armond said: "Our experience in Spain proves that these campaigns make ex-pat communities a hostile environment for UK fugitives.

"We have already achieved some outstanding results with our Dutch partners; this appeal aims to build on this success and ensure that the Netherlands is not seen as an easy hiding place for UK criminals."

Waite is white, 5ft 11in tall, of medium build and has green eyes.

Morton is white, 5ft 9in, of medium build and has blue eyes. He has a scar on the left side of his chin.

The other men on Crimestoppers' wanted list include Brian Bradshaw, 67, from Surrey, who fled from prison after being jailed for manslaughter and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Dion Lee, 33, from Preston, is wanted by Lancashire Police for conspiring to supply drugs and possessing guns and ammunition.

James Muldoon, 30, from Liverpool, stole goods worth 41,000 in a robbery at a haulage company depot in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Rezgar Zengana, 27, was convicted of rape at the High Court in Glasgow in 2008 after attacking a woman while posing as a taxi driver.

Crimestoppers' North East regional manager Dave Hunter said: "These criminals think they're safe hiding in the Netherlands, but it takes only one call to Crimestoppers to bring them back to the UK to face justice."

Anyone with information should call 0800 555111 in the UK or 0800 7000 in the Netherlands.