A SERIAL conman who was on the run for two years has been given bail by Spanish police, The Gazette understands.

Norman Fowler, from Colchester, is wanted by two police forces in the UK.

Fowler, 38, of Propelair Way, failed to appear at Norwich Crown Court in December 2014 after being sentenced to three months in prison for stealing camera equipment and six months for absconding.

He has been on police 'wanted' lists ever since.

The conman is also wanted by Essex Police in connection with a £21,000 fraud.

He is also separately wanted in connection with alleged scams on websites including Gumtree and eBay.

Last week, it emerged Fowler was in a Spanish jail after being arrested and remanded for unrelated gun licensing matters.

But yesterday police in Alicante released him on bail.

Videographer Tom Tailford, from Norfolk, who was the victim of the £10,000 camera theft, set up a website to expose the conman and track him down.

He said: "It is an absolutely joke.

"If he slips through their hands again it will be unforgivable."

He added: "You would have thought they would bear in mind his past convictions and the fact that he has absconded.

"From that, I would say it is quite likely he would abscond again."

It is understood a warrant for Fowler's arrest by Essex Police is still outstanding.

Fowler was given a suspended prison sentence for fraud at Hull Crown Court in 2008.

In 2009, he was arrested on suspicion of fraud and car crime offences and three years later, he admitted six offences at Chelmsford Crown Court and asked for 25 more to be taken into consideration.

He was ordered to carry out 300 hours of community service.

Fowler was convicted of receiving £30,000 for goods he advertised online but never provided including an Audi A4 car and a Rolex watch.

In April 2014, he was charged with theft and in December that year, he was convicted of theft in his absence at Norwich Crown Court and sentenced to nine months in prison.