POLICE who appealed for help to find a convicted firearms offender who was on the run said he has now been arrested.

Andrew 'Patch' Wright, who threatened a man with a deactivated Smith and Wesson revolver in broad daylight, was wanted for failing to comply with the conditions of his licence. 

The 24-year-old was released from prison in November after serving part of his five year sentence.

Earlier this week, Detective Sergeant Jason Corbett, from Consett CID, who led the enquiries to trace Wright, said: “We suspect Andrew Wright is still in the North-East, being harboured by friends and possibly moving from one address to another.

“He knows we are seeking him and is actively trying to avoid us.”

Wright was part of a gang, who, armed with the revolver, a samurai sword and a sledgehammer, threatened a man in Dunelm Walk, Consett, at 10.15am in January 2014.

He was taking revenge on a rival who had beaten him in a previous fight.

When he saw the man he aimed the handgun at him, spun the chamber and pretended to shoot, threatening he would kill him.

Durham Crown Court heard the man was so frightened he considered jumping from an upstairs window to try and escape but instead tried reasoning with Wright.

He responded by threatening to shoot out his windows and kill his cat.

When the gang of five entered his garden the man called the police and a major firearms response was launched.

Police later found the gun at Wright’s home, at Templar Mews, Medomsley, along with a baton, a baseball bat, a hammer, a wrench and two samurai swords.

He was arrested, said nothing in police interview, but later admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Wright was jailed for five years at by Judge Christopher Prince in July 2014 and made the subject of an indefinite restraining order to protect his victim.

On Friday evening a statement on the Consett Police Facebook page said: "Thank you to all the members of the public who contacted us after our appeal to help locate this male.

"Thanks to your reports and sightings he was located and arrested this morning and is currently in police custody waiting to be returned to HMP."