Dangerous Exeter child kidnapper and armed robber arrested after four months on the run

POLICE have confirmed that a dangerous armed robber and paedophile from Exeter was arrested this afternoon – four months after going on the run.

Officers cuffed Mark Sleman in the Smallfield area of Surrey.

A police spokesman said Sleman is currently in custody and would be returned to prison.

PC Mark Nagle who led the search for Sleman told the Echo recently that the net was widening in the search for him and officers believe he is no longer in the city.

Mark Sleman, also known as Archie, had once been convicted for kidnapping and trying to rape a 10-year-old child. He was released last year on licence as part of a seven-year sentence for robbing a homeless man at knifepoint and attempting to rob a garage shop supervisor in Exeter, again armed with a knife.

Despite being described by the judge as a “cold, callous psychopath” and being diagnosed with a personality disorder, the English Defence League supporter was allowed out of prison early.

He subsequently fled his bail hostel in Exeter and until today’s arrest had spent nearly four months on the run.

In a recent interview PC Nagle said: “We are following up leads and putting all our efforts into catching him,” he said.

“My message to the public who are concerned is that we are working very hard on bringing him back behind bars.”

Exeter Express and Echo