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Convicted murderer extradited to Maidstone

Raymond Gunnell. Picture: Kent Police
Raymond Gunnell. Picture: Kent Police

A convicted murder accused of attacking a drinker in a Maidstone pub while on licence for life has been extradited from Spain.

Raymond Gunnell stabbed his 19-year-old girlfriend Alison Newland 11 times in a jealous rage while her baby daughter was close by in 1990.

He serviced nine years of a life sentence for the attack, in Grimsby, before moving to a bail hostel in Maidstone.

Gunnell lived in St Luke's Road until 2001, when it is claimed he committed an unprovoked attack on a man in a pub before fleeing to Spain.

Gunnell, 40, is now in custody in Maidstone after he was featured on Crimewatch.

As a result of an appeal for information, police learned Gunnell was living in Spain and issued a warrant for his arrest.

He was brought back by specialist officers from Kent Police on Wednesday night, via Heathrow.

Gunnell will be returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence for murder.

Detective Sergeant Rob Cox said: “I hope that family of Alison Newland can find some comfort now that Gunnell has been jailed and severe restrictions placed on him for the rest of his life.

"The Offender Management Unit works closely with probation on cases such as these to track down those who are unlawfully at large and it is satisfying to see positive conclusion to this protracted enquiry.

"I would also like to thank the Spanish authorities, the Serious And Organised Crime Agency, Interpol and the Crown Prosecution Service for assisting us with the extradition process.

"I hope this sends out a clear message to those who have committed crimes and then attempt to flee justice that there is nowhere to hide.”

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