A luxury car thief who detectives tracked across Europe to his home in the Czech Republic has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Martin Olah, 31, stole seven cars worth £200,000 from hire firms across the UK, including two at Stansted Airport.
After a 12-month manhunt across Europe, Olah was arrested in December last year when he returned to Britain to visit relatives for Christmas.
Dc Jean Seager, who led the investigation, said that Olah, also known as Blanik, had been associated with five others who were convicted in August last year.
"We have been tracking Martin Olah all over Europe after he fled the county when the other five were arrested," she said.
"He first tried to enter the UK again in March 2013 but was stopped by the French authorities when he was found in possession of documents with false details.
"We have also worked closely with other police forces abroad, especially when he cropped up again in Austria where he was involved in the theft of cars from car hire firms in Vienna.
"He was also caught in the Czech Republic in a British hire car with false documentation. A Mercedes worth £75,000 was found in Belgium being driven by his wife.
"The theft of hire cars, particularly at airports, has been a serious problem but after the five men were convicted last year one hire car firm said that we had reduced their losses by 50 per cent.
"We have been working closely with car hire firms at Stansted Airport and fortunately security has been greatly increased as a result of the activities of thieves like Olah and his associates."
Martin Olah, 31, stole seven cars worth £200,000 from hire firms across the UK, including two at Stansted Airport.
After a 12-month manhunt across Europe, Olah was arrested in December last year when he returned to Britain to visit relatives for Christmas.
Dc Jean Seager, who led the investigation, said that Olah, also known as Blanik, had been associated with five others who were convicted in August last year.
"We have been tracking Martin Olah all over Europe after he fled the county when the other five were arrested," she said.
"He first tried to enter the UK again in March 2013 but was stopped by the French authorities when he was found in possession of documents with false details.
"We have also worked closely with other police forces abroad, especially when he cropped up again in Austria where he was involved in the theft of cars from car hire firms in Vienna.
"He was also caught in the Czech Republic in a British hire car with false documentation. A Mercedes worth £75,000 was found in Belgium being driven by his wife.
"The theft of hire cars, particularly at airports, has been a serious problem but after the five men were convicted last year one hire car firm said that we had reduced their losses by 50 per cent.
"We have been working closely with car hire firms at Stansted Airport and fortunately security has been greatly increased as a result of the activities of thieves like Olah and his associates."
