An armed robber who absconded from a prison while serving a life sentence has been tracked down by police -12 years later.

Gary Crafts was convicted of an armed robbery in 1999 and was at Standford Hill prison in Eastchurch, Sheppey , when he walked out of the open jail in 2008.

Following extensive inquiries across the UK, investigators from Kent Police’s wanted person bureau identified the 66-year-old was living under a false name in London.

Crafts was arrested on Friday, August 7 and charged with being unlawfully at large before being returned to prison.

The force's wanted person bureau works with partner agencies to track down suspects sought for questioning in relation to serious offences in the UK and abroad, offenders who are to be recalled to prison and those who have absconded from prison and are unlawfully at large.

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