A criminal who fled to Spain after being arrested for handling stolen cars has now been sent to prison – seven years after he was first arrested.

Luke Gilleeney, from Gravesend, was charged with offences in January 2015 but failed to answer bail and went on the run to Marbella.

The 33-year-old had been arrested the month before after his fingerprints were found on a false registration plate on a stolen Range Rover, which officers had found close to Gilleeney’s home address in Grange Road.

Days later police were told about another stolen Range Rover being advertised for sale, which was again found near Gilleeney’s home. It was next to a stolen Audi Q3 and another vehicle registered to one of his relatives.

The combined value of the three stolen vehicles was around £111,000.

Gilleeney was re-arrested and admitted in interview that he had taken possession of the vehicles on behalf of other unnamed associates and was trying to sell them on.

He was released on bail while the matter was being prepared for court but then fled the country for several years.

• To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here

• For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here

It was later established that Gilleeney had made his way back into the UK, and he was arrested at a new address in Meopham in December 2021.

After pleading guilty to three counts of handling stolen goods and failing to surrender, Gilleeney was sentenced to 38-and-a-half months in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday.

Passing sentence, Judge Robert Lazarus spoke of the "unusual and somewhat complex" history of the case and criticised the prosecution for "not getting their act together" to ensure all matters were dealt with together following Gilleeney's extradition from Spain in 2016.

But he said that although he accepted Gilleeney's decision to go abroad was not a deliberate attempt to evade justice but to seek healthcare for his then pregnant wife, he had made no effort to contact the court or his solicitor.

In a letter to the court, Gilleeney described the birth of his son in 2015 as "a turning point" in his life, with no crimes having been committed since.

Investigating officer DC Mark Donovan said: "The theft of a motor vehicle can be very damaging for the victims concerned and leave them feeling unsafe in their own homes.

"Whilst Luke Gilleeney is not alleged to have stolen any vehicles himself, he has shown he is more than willing to receive such criminal property in an attempt to sell them on and make money he is not entitled to.

"This case sends a strong message that while some criminals may choose to run and hide from the consequences of their actions, justice will always catch up with them in the end."