Martin Anthony Smith

A man being hunted by Cumbria police as part of a child rape investigation could be in Spain after skipping bail, it emerged today.

Martin Anthony Smith, 44, is wanted in connection with a string of alleged sex crimes, carried out over 10 years.

Police said Smith lived in north Cumbria for a period of time as well as a string of other places across the UK.

The alleged sex attacks happened between 1995 and 2005.

Cumbrian detectives were investigating the allegations when Smith failed to answer bail in January last year. No charges had been brought against him.

Smith’s details were released today as part of an appeal by the crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and the national Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).

They asked for public help in an appeal launched this morning in Malaga, an area with a large British ex-patriate community.

Smith, who was born in North Shields, is wanted in connection with a rape of a child under 16, gross indecency with a girl under the age of 16, indecent assault of a girl under 16 and attempted rape of a girl under 16.

Crimestoppers and SOCA said they worked closely with Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff in Madrid, British and with Spanish law enforcement agencies.

Crimestoppers added information given to it could help lead to arrests.

SOCA international director David Armond, said: “Through our collaboration with Crimestoppers and our Spanish law enforcement partners we have been able to extend our influence to the ex-pat communities of Spain.”

via News & Star | News | Child rape suspect hunted by Cumbria police may be living in Spain .