On-The-Run Speedboat Killer Hands Himself In

23 January 2019, 18:05 | Updated: 23 January 2019, 18:08

A man found guilty of killing a 24 year old woman from Essex in a speedboat crash on the River Thames during a date, has handed himself into authorities in Georgia after months on the run.

31 year old Jack Shepherd was found guilty in his absence of manslaughter by gross negligence over the death of 24 year old Charlotte Brown from Clacton on Sea.

Georgia's embassy in London said he surrendered himself to police today, after her family increased their calls for him to return to face justice.

Her father, Graham Brown, celebrated the move, writing on Facebook: "Justice for Charlotte is close!"

Ms Brown died in December 2015 when 31-year-old Shepherd's boat flipped into the wintry waters of the River Thames in London.

The pair had been on a Champagne-fuelled first date.

Shepherd, originally from Exeter, was sentenced in his absence to six years in prison for manslaughter by gross negligence.

A spokesman for the Georgian embassy said: "He has just surrendered himself to the Georgian Police and now the police undertakes relevant detaining formalities."

The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed Shepherd was in custody.

Scotland Yard, the force leading the investigation, said officers had been updated by the NCA on the development and are awaiting confirmation of his identity.

But, the Metropolitan Police added that once identity was secured extradition proceedings "will begin immediately" against Shepherd, who was wanted on an international arrest warrant.