One of the UK’s most wanted tax fugitives who disappeared nine years ago has been caught in Spain while walking her two dogs.

Sarah Panitzke, originally from York, was detained in the small town of Santa Barbara near the Catalan coast on Sunday and will face eight years in prison when she returns to the UK.

The 47-year-old disappeared in May 2013 while standing trial for money laundering offences.

Simon York, Director of the Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC said she played a “pivotal role in a multi-million pound VAT fraud and moved millions through offshore bank accounts”.

York added that Ms. Panitzke thought she had put herself outside of the reach of HMRC but UK law enforcement and international partners tracked her down.

Sarah Panitzke was featured in the National Crime Agency’s most wanted appeals.

National Crime Agency International Deputy Director, Tom Dowdall, said the agency is now seeking her extradition back to the UK to serve her prison sentence.

HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service has helped secure the return of more than 60 fugitives since 2016.

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