January 2009

Killer paedophile back behind bars

Killer paedophile Peter James Bastin’s bid for freedom from a Lincolnshire prison has ended with his arrest in Blackpool.

Bastin (48), who is serving life for the murder and buggery of Aslam Ibrahim (aged 10) in Leicester in 1978, absconded from HMP North Sea Camp on November 27 last year.

He was arrested by officers from Lancashire Police at an address in the seaside town late on Thursday night and will be returned to custody after being interviewed back in Lincolnshire.

No-one from the Category D prison near Boston was available for comment yesterday.

Prison Service spokesman Hugo Biggs insisted that governors were rigorous in their assessment of inmates’ risk of absconding.

“Public protection is a priority and all prisoners located in open prisons have been rigorously risk assessed,” he said.

“Any prisoner whose behaviour causes concern that they cannot safely be managed in an open prison will be returned to closed conditions.”

Bastin’s arrest followed close liaison between Lincolnshire Police and colleagues in Leicestershire and Lancashire.

Lincolnshire Police spokesman Georgie Bates said: “We would like to thank the local, regional and national media for their support in appealing for information about Bastin.

“It has been really positive work between the three forces.”