John Rocks, 37, a suspected sex offender on the UK's Most Wanted list, was arrested in Madrid on Sunday, August 1, after a two-year manhunt that initially focused on Benidorm. He is wanted for various sex offences allegedly committed between 2012 and 2022.
Arrest in Madrid
Rocks was added to the National Crime Agency's Most Wanted list, with police publishing his photo and asking: "Do you know where John Rocks is?" He had been living a nomadic life in Spain to avoid detection.
Spanish police arrested him in Madrid, where he was wearing a cap and glasses to conceal his face. He did not cooperate during identification, but his tattoos and fingerprints confirmed his identity.
Investigation and extradition
The investigation included several trips to Benidorm, surveillance operations, and on-site checks. Spanish police noted the complexity due to Rocks' concealment measures. He is now awaiting a decision on his extradition from a Madrid court.
Rick Jones, Deputy Director International at the NCA, said: "This arrest marks the 101st arrest in Operation Captura, a multi-agency campaign aimed at tracking down the UK's most wanted individuals in Spain."
