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wanted fugitive strolls in mayfair

Stephen Lawrence murder suspect thought to be on the run in Spain seen living it up in London’s Mayfair

Jamie Acourt is thought to have re-entered the country using a fake passport after he fled to the Costa Del Sol

A SUSPECT in the Stephen Lawrence mur­der case thought to be on the run in Spain has been seen living it up in London’s Mayfair.

Fugitive Jamie Acourt, 40, wanted over a £4million cannabis smuggling racket, was spotted strolling down Park Lane disguised in a pair of specs.

 Wanted fugitive Jamie Acourt (pictured in 2006)  has been spotted in London, suspected to have used a fake passport to re-enter the UK
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Wanted fugitive Jamie Acourt (pictured in 2006)  has been spotted in London, suspected to have used a fake passport to re-enter the UKCredit: BBC

A major Crimestoppers appeal to trace Acourt was launched in October on the Costa del Sol, where he fled last year.

But cops believe he ret­urned to the UK on a false passport to meet pals and raise funds for his life on the run.

A sighting of him was made around the time of the Crimestoppers appeal while he was walking close to the five-star Dorchester Hotel.

 Acourt was seen near The Dorchester hotel in Mayfair
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Acourt was seen near The Dorchester hotel in MayfairCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

A source said: “The sighting has been confirmed as him.

“He was casually walking along Park Lane without a care in the world and no doubt living it up in style.

“The suspicion is he came back from Spain on a false passport to raise money and is now likely back there.”

 Acourt was a suspect in the 1993 murder of Stephen Lawrence
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Acourt was a suspect in the 1993 murder of Stephen LawrenceCredit: LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE

Acourt is suspected of being a leading member of a crime syndicate which couriered 100kg of cannabis between London and Newcastle.

Scotland Yard swooped on several people after a two-year surveillance operation — but Ac­ourt fled abroad before arrests were made.

 Acourt fled to the Costa Del Sol in Spain to avoid arrest
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 Acourt fled to the Costa Del Sol in Spain to avoid arrestCredit: Getty Images

He was one of a gang of five or six youths thought to have taken part in the racist murder of Stephen, 18, at a bus stop in Eltham, South East London, in 1993.

Two men were convicted of the murder in 2012 and jailed for life, but Scotland Yard remain determined to bring the rest of the A Level student's killers to justice and are continuing to investigate.

Acourt, of Bexley, was last seen on February 1 before he left the country.

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