A VIOLENT criminal who went missing in Hampshire has been arrested by police.

Officers had issued an appeal for information to help capture Paul Heppenstall who they said had broken the conditions of his release from prison.

Members of the public were even urged not to approach the 30-year-old.

But he was arrested in Portsmouth late on Thursday night and is being transferred back to prison today.

Heppenstall was convicted of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to five years in prison in May 2010 for attacking a member of the public on Eastern Road, Portsmouth in October 2009.