A prolific Shropshire burglar who has been on the run from police for more than a month was back behind bars today after detectives found him hiding out at a county home.

Twenty-six-year-old Mark Stephen Gillon was discovered by officers at a house in Shrewsbury just after 4.30pm yesterday.

It followed a major police appeal to the public on Tuesday to track him down before he struck again.

Gillon, from Malinslee, Telford, was jailed for 44 months in 2006 for a number of burglary offences but was then released on licence in 2008.

However, while he was out of prison he committed further burglary offences and was sentenced to further time in jail.

In October this year Gillon was again released but breached his licence conditions once more.

Telford police spokesman Chris Ammonds today said: “Mark Gillon is now in custody at Shrewsbury police station.

“One of our officers noticed a car outside a property in Shrewsbury that had been linked to him, and he was found inside the house yesterday afternoon.

“Gillon was quickly arrested and will soon be on his way back to prison so that the chances of him reoffending are limited.”

Mr Ammonds said the public appeal for information on Gillon’s whereabouts had generated several leads.

“We would really like to thank the public for their help on this one,” he said.

“Following the public appeal for help and information over the last two days we have had several calls regarding information about Gillon and it has helped us to apprehend him so quickly.”