Lydia Spencer-Elliott
THE National Crime Agency have revealed the most wanted criminals in the UK and three of them are on the run in Spain.
Police have warned anyone who spots the lawbreakers not to approach them and instead call Crimestoppers or 999 in an emergency.
Have you seen them? Do you know them? Contact the Olive Press at newsdesk@theolivepress.es to aid our investigation into the fugitives.
Sarah Panitzke
Sarah Panitzke is wanted by HMRC for conspiracy to acquire criminal property.
Panitzke was a senior member of a crime group involved in a VAT fraud. She controlled the company accounts of many companies remotely via different IP addresses.
Panitzke travelled extensively to further the fraud to places including Dubai, Spain and Andorra and was responsible for laundering approximately £1billion pounds.
Panitzke absconded in May 2013 prior to the end of the trial and was convicted in her absence. She was sentenced to eight years on 22 August 2013.
She is described as 170cm tall, slim build with mousey straight hair, blue eyes and has a Yorkshire accent.
Prior to her arrest, Panitzke lived in Sitges near Barcelona and was last sighted in Southern Spain.
John Barton
John Barton was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in 2003 after being convicted in his absence for conspiring to import a commercial amount of heroin into the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2000.
He is believed to have links to Fuengirola.
Richard Wakeling
Richard Wakeling, from Brentwood, Essex, attempted to import £8million of liquid amphetamine into the UK in April 2016.
On April 9, 2019, he was convicted and sentenced to 11 years after he absconded before his 12-week trial began.
Wakeling has a right lower leg amputation and uses a prosthetic leg.
He needs regular medical treatment and has family and friends in Spain.
Spotted the crooks yourself? Contact the Olive Press at newsdesk@theolivepress.es to help us find the criminals on the run.
