A fugitive wanted in connection with a serious stabbing was arrested in Bradford after a national TV appeal.

Qasim Khan, 38, was spotted walking in a street within hours of the BBC Crimewatch appeal.

The witness contacted police and a Bradford response unit swooped on Fullerton Street in Barkerend. The suspect was arrested peacefully.

He has been transferred to West Midlands Police, who are investigating the stabbing incident.

They had sought Khan after a 30-year-old woman was stabbed in the stomach at a shared house in Small Heath, Birmingham, in December, 2011. The woman sustained life-threatening injuries and was critically ill, but has now fully recovered.

Police put out an appeal on Crimewatch on Monday, with a photograph of Khan, on the ‘most wanted’ section. It said that Khan, originally from Afghanistan, had links to Birmingham and Bradford, and may be working as an oddjob man.

The following evening police received a call, reporting they had seen the man featured on the programme.

Response officers immediately attended Fullerton Street, where the suspect was still walking.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said yesterday: “West Yorkshire Police responded immediately when they received a call from a member of the public stating they had seen a man featured on the programme.

“A 38-year-old man was arrested on Fullerton Street and taken into custody. He was this morning transferred to a police station in the West Midlands where he is being questioned by detectives.”

Detective Constable Rob Clarke, of West Midlands Police, said: “This is a significant breakthrough in the investigation.”