A VIOLENT prisoner from York who spent 93 days on the run with his young son was today under arrest - but his child was not with him.

Karl Gaskin, a member of York's travelling community, was picked up in Penrith, Cumbria,early today.

It is believed Gaskin was heading for Stranraer on his way to Ireland.

Police said Gaskin's ten-year-old son, Karl-Tyler, who he snatched on Christmas Day, was not with him. Inspector Dick Holmes, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "It is possible Karl-Tyler is with family or friends within the travelling community. Karl Gaskin will be brought back to Lincolnshire from Cumbria today. He will be questioned in connection with the abduction of Karl-Tyler. Inquiries about Karl-Tyler's whereabouts are ongoing."

Gaskin was serving five years for two violent offences before he absconded from North Sea Camp open prison, Lincolnshire.

Four years of his sentence were for a vicious baseball bat attack on a man outside Toff's nightclub, York, that left his victim with injuries including a fractured skull, dislocated collarbone and shoulder joint.

There had been sightings of Gaskin across the north of England since he went missing, but police recently admitted the trail had gone cold. This prompted his ex-wife, Soraya, to make an emotional appeal for the return of Karl-Tyler. She was not available for comment today.

Hughie Smith, president of the National Gypsy Council, who lives near Wetherby, said: "My own personal view is that this will be to the benefit of everyone involved. Things will settle down eventually."

Gaskin hit the headlines in November 2001 when he and another man were acquitted of attempted murder after a shotgun shooting at a York travellers' site.

No one has been convicted of the shooting, which left a man in intensive care. He later recovered.

Updated: 10:37 Friday, March 26, 2004