Police have thanked members of the public after fugitive Matthew Ford of Wingate hands himself in A SENIOR police officer has thanked members of the public after a wanted man was escorted back to prison, following a successful appeal. Matthew Ford had been evading police for more than 12 months after being wanted on prison recall for breaching the terms of his licence. Despite knowing that he was wanted, Ford, of the Wingate area of Durham, had seemingly gone to ground in a bid to avoid arrest. That prompted a public appeal for information on Friday as officers asked communities across Northumbria and beyond to get in touch if they knew his whereabouts.