A CONVICTED child killer, on the run from prison, was caught yesterday during a North-East dawn drugs raid.

Christopher Brophy was arrested at his girlfriend's house in Wren Street in the Oxbridge area of Stockton, when police stormed the address.

Brophy, 39, was jailed for life in 1984 after being convicted of the drug-crazed murder of his then girlfriend's baby son.

He was also convicted of committing bodily harm with intent and child cruelty.

Brophy had served 16 years of his sentence when he escaped from Hallesley Bay Prison, in Suffolk, in December and has been on the run ever since. He escaped after he was given temporary release from prison to attend a hospital appointment.

During yesterday's operation, six houses in Stockton were raided by police and seven people were arrested on drug charges.

Heroin worth £400 was recovered from one house along with a small amount of cannabis. Detective Inspector Stewart Swinson, who headed the operation, said: "We are pleased to have made this arrest on behalf of West Yorkshire Police.

"It was another positive bonus to a successful operation."

In 1984, Leeds Crown Court heard how Brophy, of Brighouse, West Yorkshire, initially denied hurting 14-month-old David Thompson.

But he later admitted throwing him down in an aggressive rage. Doctors found 36 bruises and marks on David's tiny body, including two cigarette burns.

Brophy, who was held at Stockton police station, is expected to be interviewed by West Yorkshire police shortly.