'Most wanted' man arrested in Spain

Clifford Hobbs, 47, was arrested in the Malaga area of Spain on a European arrest warrant, Scotland Yard said.

Hobbs was sprung from a prison van by armed men in June 2003 as he was being transported to court to face the robbery charge. He is one of Scotland Yard's most wanted men.

The arrest follows an operation involving Scotland Yard, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and Spanish police.

Police said he was detained in connection with allegations of robbery, firearms offences and escaping from custody. He will remain in custody in Spain while the UK authorities arrange for his extradition.

Hobbs escaped when his Securicor prison van was ambushed by two armed men outside Inner London Crown Court.

The men, both armed with handguns, shot the driver in the leg and pistol-whipped the security guard across the face. One of them was disguised as a postman.

Three prisoners, including Hobbs, escaped from the rear of the van and ran off on foot. Seven others remained inside and were later taken into court.

A second man, Noel Cunningham, 45, who was facing the same charge as Hobbs, remains on the run.

The two defendants were accused of conspiracy to steal £1.25 million from a Securicor van in Effra Road, Brixton, in March 2003. The third man, Tony Peters, 41, handed himself into a south London police station.