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Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd 'hiding in Georgia'

Steve Parsons Jack ShepherdSteve Parsons
Shepherd let Charlotte Brown drive his speedboat for a "thrill", the Old Bailey heard

A man who killed a woman in a speedboat crash on the River Thames has been in Georgia since March, the BBC has learned.

Jack Shepherd went on the run before he was convicted last July for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown.

The BBC has been told "there are records" of Shepherd being in the Georgian capital Tbilisi and "no sign" he had left the former Soviet state.

The Met Police and the Home Office declined to comment on his whereabouts.

Miss Brown's family are due to meet Home Secretary Sajid Javid later to discuss what has been done since Shepherd was convicted.

He first appeared at the Old Bailey on 26 January, where he entered a not guilty plea to a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Metropolitan Police Charlotte BrownMetropolitan Police
Charlotte Brown, known as Charli, was a business development consultant from London
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Judge Richard Marks QC released the 31-year-old on unconditional bail.

However, Shepherd failed to show up for his three-week trial at the Old Bailey.

He was found guilty of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 24-year-old Miss Brown by a majority of 11-1 and sentenced to six years in his absence.

Following his conviction an international arrest warrant was issued, meaning other law enforcement agencies across the world have been alerted.

Charlotte Brown's sister Katie (middle) appealed for Shepherd to "take responsibility for the devastation he has caused our family"

After meeting on the dating website OkCupid, Shepherd took Miss Brown on a date on 8 December 2015.

Shepherd spent £150 on wine and food at a restaurant in The Shard before taking Ms Brown on a speedboat he claimed he owned.

Ms Brown and Shepherd were thrown from the boat when it hit branches in the water near Wandsworth Bridge close to midnight.

Map: route taken by Jack Shepherd and Charlotte Brown

Shepherd was found clinging to the hull and Ms Brown, from Clacton, Essex, was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive.

A post-mortem examination found she died from cold water immersion.

Despite being in hiding, Shepherd has won the right to appeal against his conviction.

Met Police SpeedboatMet Police
The boat was taken to the Old Bailey car park to be inspected by jurors during the trial

Ahead of a meeting with Mr Javid, Miss Brown's father, Graham Brown, said Shepherd needed to "atone for his crass and reckless actions".

"We want to hear from the home secretary on what action is being taken to bring Shepherd to justice.

"We also want to know that this operation will be fully resourced until he is found and put behind bars."

According to the Home Office, the United Kingdom has an international extradition arrangement with Georgia.

Mr Shepherd's lawyers have been contacted for comment by the BBC.