Criminals caught in TV show sting

The six were wanted for failing to appear in court

Six wanted criminals were tricked into handing themselves in to police under the belief they were taking part in a television show to win £20,000.

Police said they were invited to take part in the show at the Heaven and Hell club in Hull - but greeted by officers with warrants for their arrest.

All six were being hunted as part of Humberside Police's Operation Target, after failing to appear in court.

Det Supt Colin Andrews said: "I am very pleased with the results."

The programme was a very small part of Operation Target but demonstrated how difficult it is to hide from us once you are wanted for an alleged offence Det Supt Colin Andrews

The "contestants" were led to believe they had been chosen to take part in a show called Ladz TV.

After being taken up to the "heaven" part of the nightclub and given free entertainment, they were sent down to "hell" where officers were waiting.

Mr Andrews said: "We used their greed to entice them into coming along in order to arrest them.

"The whole operation cost Humberside Police nothing, it was all paid for by the TV company, and we've arrested six people who we were looking for.

"We've also increased the awareness of the public to some of the difficulties we face after having arrested people."

Those targeted by the operation were wanted for failing to appear in court charged with a variety of offences, including driving without insurance and assault.

Police pleased

Officers spent several months reviewing cases, gathering intelligence and preparing files on the force's "most wanted" people before the launch of Operation Target.

To date, 484 people have been arrested under the initiative.

"The programme was a very small part of Operation Target but demonstrated how difficult it is to hide from us once you are wanted for an alleged offence," Mr Andrews added.

"We were pleased to work with True North Productions and the public will see alleged offenders who were very difficult for the police to find being arrested."

The programme, called MacIntyre's Big Sting, will be shown on Channel Five on Tuesday.