ONE of Hampshire's most wanted criminals is finally behind bars today.

Samuel Lord has been on the run for three months after being convicted of masterminding a £7million booze smuggling racket.

The 53-year-old humiliated justice officials when he strolled out of Southampton Crown Court just moments after being found guilty of conspiracy to smuggle spirits into Britain.

Lord, along with co-conspirator Barry Beardall, 55, was found guilty of conspiring to evade duty. Two other men - including Lord's 23-year-old son Simon - were cleared of the same charge.

Ports, airports, and Interpol were put on full alert over fears that businessman Lord may have followed in the footsteps of fugitive Asil Nadir and fled to Cyprus because he and Beardall ran a company which had strong links with the island. He vanished after Judge Paul Darlow granted him leave to talk to lawyers and family members outside the court room.

But today he will be brought before a judge after police and customs officials tracked him to the Rockley Caravan Park in Poole, Dorset, yesterday.

Last night a relieved Customs and Excise official said: "We are extremely pleased this man has been caught. It was the result of a lengthy surveillance operation involving police and customs officers. This is the biggest-ever alcohol smuggling case in Southampton and we are delighted to achieve this result."

Lord, of Penny Hedge, Barton-on-Sea was part of a gang which illegally imported 700,000 bottles of spirits into the UK from Belgium.

He denied involvement through.out the 13-week trial at Southampton.

Beardall of Marine Drive, Barton-on-Sea, was sentenced to six and a half years two months ago for his part in the scam.

The hunt for Lord included a nationwide TV appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch which screened a Daily Echo photograph of the criminal in the hope viewers would recognise him.

His wife Susan, who thought her husband was going to work instead of appearing on trial, and their other son Steve, 15, have refused to discuss the case since he went missing.

During the smuggling more than 100 consignments of booze had been imported from Belgium during the scam. 26 were seized, and customs estimate the snatch amounted to a duty loss of £1,8 million.

The other 74 loads went to unknown destinations, and customs estimate the tax loss as more than £5 million - taking the total evasion to £7 million.