SPEEDBOAT killer Jack Shepherd has appeared in court in Georgia after spending months on the run.

Fugitive Shepherd sat in the dock as Tbilisi City Court heard on Friday he had been in the country since March last year.

Shepherd surrendered himself to police in Georgia last Wednesday after international coverage he had fled justice.

Shepherd, 31, had been charged with being responsible for the death of Charlotte Brown, 24, from Clacton, who died when his speedboat crashed in the icy waters of the River Thames in December 2015.

Shepherd was released on unconditional bail by Judge Richard Marks QC but failed to show up for his Old Bailey trial.

He was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence in his absence and was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

After his conviction an international arrest warrant was issued.

Despite being on the run, Shepherd has won the right to appeal against his conviction.

Shepherd will now be held in a Georgian jail for three months before an extradition hearing which his solicitor said he intends to contest.

Shepherd told the court on Friday: “Not a single day passes when I don’t think about the passing of Charlotte’s life and the effect on her family.”

He also said he regretted not being at his UK trial.

“I wish I’d sat down with Charlotte’s family to explain,” he said.

Charlotte’s devastated family said Shepherd had displayed “unbelievable arrogance” and had not demonstrated any remorse.

Prime Minister Theresa May was said to have “welcomed” the news the fugitive was now in custody.

Her official spokesman said: “The Government will now work alongside the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that extradition proceedings are expedited.”

One of Shepherd’s defence lawyers told the Tbilisi court he should not be extradited because he was warned in a phone call his life might be in danger if he goes to a UK jail.

Shepherd told the court he has been working in Georgia, and that he greatly regrets going out on the speedboat.

He said the accident left him depressed and suicidal.

His defence team did not challenge the ruling that he should be kept in custody while his extradition was pending.