Jack Shepherd: River Thames speedboat killer hands himself in at police station in Georgia

A British man who went on the run after killing a woman in a speedboat crash on their first date has turned himself in at a police station in Georgia.

Jack Shepherd vanished while on bail over the manslaughter of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown, who died when his speedboat hit a log and flipped on the River Thames in London in December 2015. 

The pair, who met on a dating website, had spent the evening at a restaurant before taking to the river.

The 31-year-old web designer was tried in his absence and sentenced in July to a six-year-prison term for gross negligence manslaughter.

Georgia's Interior Ministry said in a statement that Shepherd had arrived at a police station with lawyers and turned himself in.

Television footage showed a bearded man entering the station, telling reporters: "Yes my name is Jack Shepherd, I was involved in a tragic accident."

London's Metropolitan Police said it had been informed that Shepherd was in custody in Tbilisi.

"Extradition proceedings will begin immediately", a spokesman said, once his identity had been confirmed.

The victim's family and politicians including Prime Minister Theresa May had called on Shepherd to hand himself in.

The news came a day after the victim's father, Graham Brown, met Britain's interior minister and vowed that "there can be no hiding place for Jack Shepherd."

Graham Brown wrote on Facebook: "Just been informed that Jack Shepherd has been arrested in Georgia. Justice for Charlotte is close!"