Fugitive sex offender John Rocks, 37, was captured by Spanish police in Madrid on August 1, ending a search that had previously focused on Benidorm. Rocks, who is on the National Crime Agency's Most Wanted list, now faces extradition to Scotland.
Arrest details
Footage released by Spanish police shows two plain-clothes officers arresting Rocks on a busy street. He was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, but had been wearing a cap and glasses to conceal his identity.
Rocks is wanted by Police Scotland for several sex offences committed between 2012 and 2022. He was thought to have been hiding in Benidorm with help from friends.
Police statement
Spain's National Police said: "National Police officers have arrested J.R., 37, in Madrid, who was wanted by the British authorities for several sexual assault offences."
The statement added that the investigation began in 2024 after a communication from UK police, and that Rocks was believed to be hiding in Spain. The alleged offences involved serious sexual assaults against various victims, some of whom were in a romantic relationship with him at the time.
Extradition process
Rocks appeared before an extradition judge in Madrid. It is not yet clear if he consented to being returned to the UK or plans to fight extradition.
