A JUDGE has issued a warrant for the arrest of a man who was involved in the trade in hard drugs.

Mark Roberts was due to appear before a judge at Swindon Crown Court after being spared jail possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

But when the 45-year-old failed to attend the hearing, and a judge was told he was also wanted on warrant by magistrates, he issued a warrant without bail for his arrest.

Roberts, of Broad Street, was put on a two year jail term suspended for two years in October last year with 150 hours of unpaid work, of which he has done just one.

He had admitted possessing the drugs with intent to supply, having criminal property in the form of £750 failing to surrender to custody and theft of a TV from Tesco's.