Bernard Sharkey hunt: Man arrested on suspicion of assisting offender
Police searching for a prisoner who absconded while doing community work on Teesside have arrested a man in Northumberland.
A 47-year-old man was held in Morpeth on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of assisting an offender, police said.
Officers are still searching for Bernard Sharkey, 34, and have again warned the public not to approach him.
Sharkey was jailed for making threats to kill and possessing an offensive weapon.
The arrested 47-year-old man will be questioned by Cleveland Police detectives.
Sharkey, who was serving an indeterminate sentence at HMP Kirklevington Grange near Yarm, was last seen doing community work at Newham Grange Farm in Coulby Newham at 12:30 BST on 23 August.
Celtic band tattoo
He was picked up from the farm in a silver saloon car.
Police have notified a "known individual" they say Sharkey could pose a risk to.
Acting Supt Rob Donaghy said: "Sharkey remains outstanding and we would reiterate our warning to members of the public not to approach him but to contact 999 immediately, and we would again appeal to Bernard Sharkey to hand himself in."
Sharkey has relatives in the Grangetown area and family and friends in and around Morpeth. A number of sightings have been reported.
He has been described as white, 5ft 9in tall and of medium build. He has a scar on his top lip and a Celtic band tattoo on his upper left arm.
Kirklevington Grange is a category C resettlement prison for adult male offenders nearing the end of their sentence.
Sharkey had been deemed as "low risk" by the prison, which is why he was working in the community.