An Italian pastor accused of child sex abuse has been found hiding in Scotland.
The 50-year-old evangelical preacher was arrested on a warrant by Police Scotland after being traced to Hawick in the Borders, where he is said to have been building a new life with his family.
The suspect – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was extradited to Italy and met by police at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport last week, where he was taken into custody over allegations relating to “continued sexual violence ” against his daughters.
Police in Frosinone, central Italy, said the alleged paedophile had “tried to flee abroad” but was sourced following an investigation coordinated by police and prosecutors in Cassino and assisted by the Crown and police in Scotland.
The minister was arrested by Police Scotland in December and is understood to have been held here for five months before being extradited and taken to Rome’s Rebibbia Prison last Thursday.
Frosinone Police released a video showing officers arriving at the airport in Rome to meet the pastor.
Police Scotland said: “A man was arrested at an address in Hawick on 23 December 2020 in relation to historic sexual offences in Italy. He was extradited to Italy on 20 May, 2021.”
