Jack Shepherd, the so-called speedboat killer, claimed he was “driven by an animal instinct” when he decided to flee justice, as he yesterday boarded a plane to Britain.

The 31-year-old spent months hiding in Georgia after disappearing ahead of his trial for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown, who died while on a date in his speedboat in 2015.

A huge international manhunt was launched to find Shepherd after he was sentenced in his absence to six years in prison last summer, ending only when he handed himself in to authorities in Tbilisi in January.

The fugitive spent more than two months awaiting extradition in a Georgian jail and finally landed at Gatwick airport last night before police escorted him away ahead of his appearance in the Old Bailey today.

Asked by a BBC reporter about his decision to run from authorities, he replied: "It wasn't premeditated, as some have said, but it was just a case of being driven by an animal instinct, fear, and just jumping on a plane really without much of a plan."

Shepherd is due to appear at the Old Bailey in London this morning.

Angela Deal, head of extradition at the CPS said: “Jack Shepherd has returned to the UK to face justice following close co-operation between the CPS Extradition Unit, UK colleagues and the Georgian authorities, to ensure a successful extradition.