Fugitive Condron, 36, had his photograph taken for the ‘win a wedding’ contest for his bride-to-be Rebecca Young (Picture: Wales News Service)

A wanted criminal who has been on the run for seven years was caught after his picture appeared in the local papers for a ‘win a wedding’ contest.

Vincent Condron, 36, was sentenced to 28 days in jail in 2006 for burglary, however he was released within hours after spending 14 days in custody.

He was originally given a 12 month community order after he was convicted of burglary and shoplifting two DVD box sets, but he failed to comply with several conditions and a warrant for his arrest was issued in 2007. He never turned up in court.

Condron, who is a former heroin addict, had fled to Ireland in order to get clean, before studying at a college in Dublin. He returned to Cardiff and met his fiancée Rebecca Young and now has plans to start his own business as a practitioner in holistic medicine.




He appeared before a judge in Cardiff two weeks ago after a police officer recognised his picture in a copy of the South Wales Echo as part of a ‘win a wedding’ competition in June.

Condron was remanded in custody while a judge assessed the evidence of how he had turned his live around. Having already spent 14 days in custody since his arrest he was expected to be released within hours.