A GRAVESIDE mugger who was on the run from police has been arrested and sent back to jail.

Craig Lister, aged 25, was jailed for five years in 2003 for robbing Jean Fitton, aged 72, as she tended her granddaughter's grave.

He was released in December after three years on condition he kept in touch with parole officers, but he failed to do so.

On Tuesday, The Bolton News published a photograph of Lister and an appeal from police for help in tracking him down.

Lister, formerly of Platt Hill Avenue, Deane, is now back in custody after he was arrested in Oldham in connection with another matter. He will be sent back to jail to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Sgt Kevin Lister, of Bolton Police, said: "We would like to thank the public for their help with this case."

The graveside robbery happened in September, 2002, as Mrs Fitton was standing by her granddaughter's grave in Heaton Cemetery.

Lister grabbed her handbag from behind, causing her to fall. Her leg was cut so badly that she needed stitches.

The bag contained £645 and jewellery, which was never recovered.

Lister and a boy, aged 13, had originally gone into the area armed with a screwdriver to break into cars, but then spotted Mrs Fitton. The pair spent the stolen money buying trainers in shops in Manchester.

The victim said the money was going to be used to buy a headstone for her late granddaughter Marina, who died when she was 27.

Lister admitted one count of robbery at a hearing at Bolton Crown Court in February, 2003.

The teenager was given an eight-month detention and training order after he admitted handling the contents of Mrs Fitton's stolen purse.