Fugitive: Spencer White in 1999 (right) and in 2015 (left)
A man who escaped jail 16 years ago is back behind bars after he was caught on holiday in the Canary Islands.
Spencer White absconded from HMP Ford in July 1999 after being sentenced to three years for kidnapping an adult.
But on September 19 this year, the 39-year-old was stopped by police as he arrived at Lanzarote airport after being recognised as wanted on a European Arrest Warrant.
Police believe he has been secretly living in southern Ireland since disappearing 16 years ago.
White, from Chichester, West Sussex, was extradited back to the UK on October 1 where he was charged with escaping lawful custody.
At Chichester Crown Court on October 23 he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to an additional 16 months in prison , on top of the two years and four months remaining on his original sentence.
The spokesman said: "He has now been returned to HMP Ford."
Pc Lewis Dines, from the investigation team into absconders from HMP Ford, said: "Spencer White has been a priority to locate from the moment he absconded, but he evaded immediate capture and disappeared off of our radar.
"Within the last year we received information about his possible location and, based on this, we were able to secure a European Arrest Warrant so that he could be arrested if found outside of the UK.
"I am delighted that after 16 years of evading authorities, he has been recaptured and returned to prison to serve out not only remainder of his original sentence, but an additional term as well.
"His capture and additional sentence send a message that we will not give up seeking absconders and when we put them back in front of the court they can expect further punishment."
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