Suspected York arsonist arrested – in Finland

York police finally caught up with a suspect – more than a thousand miles away from his home city.

Thomas Oakley, 21, of Rawcliffe, has been arrested in Finland.

He was tracked down to Helsinki, the Finnish capital city, by North Yorkshire Police.

In 2016, he was charged with arson with intent to endanger life after allegedly setting fire to a house in Selby.

After he failed to appear in court a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police made a public appeal in a bid to trace him last year.

Specially-trained intelligence officers recently located him in Finland and have worked with the country’s authorities to arrange his extradition.

He is currently being held in custody in Helsinki and is due to appear in front of magistrates in York on Thursday May 31.