Daniel Gee had no idea when he walked into shop for a butty that police were coming

Daniel Gee was blissfully unaware as he queued up to purchase a sandwich that he would soon find himself in the back of a police vehicle.

On Tuesday (June 25), the former Everton gangster was found in the New Springs area of Wigan. Notorious for transforming his neighbourhood into a round-the-clock drug market, Gee had escaped from Kirklevington Grange Prison in North Yorkshire on 27 May.

An eyewitness, who wished to remain unnamed, described the scene as officers swooped in on the normally tranquil council estate. He recounted how Gee was actually buying a sandwich at an off-licence next to the Kirkless Hall Inn pub when he was apprehended and mentioned seeing him around the locality several times over the past week, reports the Liverpool Echo.

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He said: "Yesterday he was buying a sandwich, he was chatting away then next minute the police came from nowhere. They must have known he was in the shop. He complied with officers as they told him to get on the ground. They hand cuffed him and he was smiling and laughing with them as he was led away."

Regarding the local vibe, he added: "You get a lot of people from Liverpool around here. I never had a problem with him when I saw him around."

It's also come to light through the ECHO that another individual was present with Gee during his capture, who was also observed entering a police car.

Merseyside Police has not yet confirmed any additional arrests related to Gee's prison break.

Photos released by Merseyside Police capture Gee grinning as he is apprehended at a shop on Albion Drive in Wigan. Angela Whalley, a local mum-of-one who has lived in the area her whole life, spoke to the ECHO about the decline of the neighbourhood.

The 54 year old support worker lamented: "It's just got worse. We used to leave the doors open, people would come in freely, we knew all our neighbours when I was growing up. It's all changed now."

She added with regret: "There used to be a waiting list to live on this estate, now look at it. There's drug dealing outside the front door, cars come and go, lads on push bikes. I've lived here all my life, it's a shame."

Gee had been sentenced to an indeterminate term for public protection in 2010 after being convicted of gun crimes, which included plotting to arm himself for retribution against teenager Jamie Starkey. Gee sustained severe injuries when Starkey shot him outside an Anfield pub; one bullet went through his stomach and lung and exited his back.

In October 2009, Gee was convicted of two counts each of threats to kill and blackmail.

Jurors were deadlocked on the graver accusations of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition. On the brink of his second trial, Gee, previously of Maryport Close, Everton, pleaded guilty to the latter charge.

Prosecutor Ian Unsworth KC commented that Gee's thirst for vengeance "knew no bounds".

Considering Gee was in a category D open prison prior to his escape, it seemed probable he would have been shortly freed from his indeterminate sentence. Yet, after being recaptured, he is set to be sent back to jail and will face an extended period behind bars before he can be considered for parole again.