A Scottish man on the UK’s most-wanted list, John Rocks, 37, was arrested in Madrid after a two-year investigation. Police say he adopted a nomadic lifestyle to avoid detection and was located during a surveillance operation while wearing a cap and sunglasses. He was first recognised by tattoos and later confirmed by fingerprints; he remains in custody pending an extradition decision. The NCA said the arrest is the 101st under Operation Captura.
UK Most-Wanted Scot John Rocks Arrested In Madrid After Two-Year Hunt
Scot on UK's most wanted list arrested in Spain
John Rocks, 37, a Scottish man who featured on the UK’s most-wanted list in connection with multiple alleged sexual assaults, has been arrested in Madrid, Spanish authorities say.
Spain's National Police say the arrest on Saturday followed a two-year investigation after officers received information suggesting Rocks might be in the country. Officers initially searched in Benidorm before surveillance led them to a central street in Madrid, where he was located and detained.
How He Was Found
Investigators say Rocks had been living an itinerant, nomadic lifestyle and moved frequently in an apparent effort to avoid arrest. At the time of his detention he was wearing a cap and sunglasses, which police say appeared intended to partly conceal his face.
Police report that Rocks supplied different personal details while officers attempted to verify his identity and did not co-operate. He was initially recognised by distinctive tattoos; subsequent fingerprint checks confirmed he was the man wanted by Police Scotland in relation to offences said to have taken place between 2012 and 2022.
Legal Status And International Cooperation
Rocks later appeared before a Madrid court and remains in custody while Spanish authorities consider a request for extradition to the UK.
Rick Jones, International Director of the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), said the arrest was the 101st made under Operation Captura, a multi-agency campaign to locate the UK's most-wanted individuals in Spain. He praised the Spanish National Police and underlined the commitment of UK and international partners to return fugitives to face the courts.
This case highlights continued cross-border cooperation between UK and Spanish law enforcement agencies and the role of targeted intelligence and surveillance in locating suspects who adopt transient lifestyles to evade capture.
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