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Police hunting for a man on the run knew they’d found the right house…. when they spotted a framed newspaper clipping about him above the fireplace.

Sure enough, after seeing the wanted man's mugshot staring down from them on the wall, Greater Manchester Police officers found the fugitive hiding in the kitchen cupboard.

The clipping contained an article which included the fugitive’s picture and the fact he was on the run from police.

The wanted man, who cannot be named, had breached licence conditions after being released from prison and was taken back to finish his sentence.

Today, the friend who gave the fugitive a place to hide was sentenced to a community order and a two-month curfew at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

Jordan Sim-mutch, 21, then of Brinnington in Stockport, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing.

On 21 December, police forced open the door at Sim-mutch’s home following information the fugitive was hiding out and found him and the wanted man hiding in the cupboard. Both men were arrested.

Police Constable Mike Lawler said: "Not only did this fugitive frame himself - quite literally - he also unintentionally framed Sim-mutch in the process.

“Whatever the motivation, this act of utter vanity pretty much handed Sim-mutch and the fugitive to us on a plate.

"While Sim-mutch has always denied any involvement with the picture itself, the fact that a framed picture of his friend's mugshot proclaiming him a wanted man was staring down at Sim-mutch from atop of his fireplace means he knew full well he was harbouring a fugitive.

"Why this man decided to frame his own appeal is anyone's guess - perhaps it was a badge of honour, or perhaps he just enjoyed the notoriety of seeing his picture in the paper.

"This 'friend' left Sim-mutch with absolutely no realistic defence for his actions, and I suspect he is ruing the day he ever granted him sanctuary from the police."