Facebook fugitive caught after 105 days

William Stewart was caught in a rural part of the Canterbury region, on the South Island, after a farmer found the 47-year-old trying to steal one of his vehicles in the early hours of the morning.

Police quickly swooped on the area and captured Stewart, who was sporting long hair and a bushy beard after more than three months as an outlaw.

Stewart's long evasion of the police inspired a band of supporters, who set up a site on Facebook, the popular Internet networking site, to chronicle his movements around the South Island.

One man was inspired to write a song entitled "Billy the Hunted One" in his honour -- words Stewart used to sign a thank you note carved onto a table at a property where he was believed to have stolen food.

Another man from Canterbury was selling "Where's Billy?" T-shirts on the Internet.

Police said they were frustrated by efforts to celebrate Stewart, who they described as a career criminal and methamphetamine user.

The hunt for Stewart began when he escaped arrest after threatening a police officer with a metal bar on February 10.

But he gave up quietly Wednesday, with police saying he looked relieved as he told them: "I've had a good run".

(c) 2009 AFP