Spanish police arrest British DJ wanted over rape allegations

The 41-year-old was detained by officers acting on a European Arrest Warrant at his home in Orihuela Costa near Alicante.

He is thought to be Ricky Devine, a former part-time presenter for Costa Blanca expat radio station Exite FM.

Orihuela Costa: Where the rape suspect was arrested

Police said Devine had now been taken to the country's National Criminal Court to face an extradition hearing.

A spokesman for Exite FM said: "We're totally shocked.

"Ricky was the sort of guy who'd do anything for anybody.

"He was very unassuming. He worked as a volunteer presenter for us.

"We knew something had happened. He was supposed to be doing a show for us the other night.

"When he failed to turn up for work we phoned his mum who simply said he was in Madrid and didn't tell us any more.

"But we had no idea he had been arrested for rape.

"I know nothing about his past other than that he's from London and I think he used to be a car salesman.

"I'm not sure how long he had been living in Spain for but I believe it had been about a year."

Devine's arrest comes nearly a decade after DJ Richard Baker was jailed for life for a string of rapes.