A ‘BUILDER from hell’ who got five years for ripping off a pensioner has had four months added to his sentence.

John Hart, who had regularly missed court dates since his arrest in 2014, went on the run in the middle of his trial earlier this week.

But the 61-year-old handed himself to police in Bournemouth after a friend read news of a warrant out for his arrest in the papers.

Hart was due to appear at Swindon Crown Court on Tuesday, the day he was due to give evidence in his defence against a fraud charge, but failed to turn up.

He initially sent a message through his solicitor that he was running late because of traffic caused by an accident near Ringwood.

When the police was found there had been no such road troubles he sent another message saying he would arrive at 11.30am, but never did.

A whole day was lost with the jury being sent home before the case continued on Wednesday without him in the dock.

Hart, of Pokesdown, Bournemouth, admitted failing to surrender to custody.

Emma Handslip, defending, said: “The instructions I have received are that he realised he didn't have his angina spray. He returned home.

"He said he was then told by his solicitors that the case had been adjourned for the day. He said he thought the matter was going to be adjourned and would be notified.

"He was made aware on Thursday evening through a friend that the matter was in the paper and he had been sentenced in his absence. The only saving graces is he went to the police station and handed himself in."

Adding four months to his sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said he took into account the affect on justice and costs of the delay.

Hart took cheques to the value of £34,500 from 76-year-old David Taylor after he called him in to deal with a damp patch on his bathroom floor in October 2013.

After arriving at the home where the old man lived alone after his parents died the builder told him of a number of other jobs that needed doing.

Within a month he had fleeced him for more than £20,000, doing a small amount of shoddy work, and saying he would be back in March to fit a new bathroom.

When the following spring time came he returned saying he was having needed thousands more and was having trouble finding a bathroom suite.

Having plundered more cash from the vulnerable pensioner he said he would be back August, when he again said more work would need to be done.

Becoming concerned about the work the victim called him and felt intimidated when Hart threatened to walk off the job.

Hart returned to the house with a plumber who saw the builder smash a hole in the bedroom ceiling and then tell the victim it would cost £7,000 to repair.

Astounded at what he had seen and having learned how much he had taken the other man told the victim to call the police.

Hart had denied a single count of fraud but was convicted by a jury and sentenced to five years in prison.

Det Con James Roberts, from Swindon CID, said: "I would like to thank the public and the local media for sharing the news of the case which put pressure on Hart to hand himself in.

"I welcome the additional sentence handed to him today.”