A drugs gang member who fled to Dubai for a year wanted to return to the UK to hand himself in – but was prevented by the lockdown.

Jenner Araujo was sentenced in his absence to six years and two months’ imprisonment in February – six months after he skipped court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On Friday, Swindon Crown Court heard the 24-year-old had flown to Dubai, where he was not working.

Defending, Mark Ashley said: “Like many people in his position, having been into custody before. He was very scared. I have explained to him that is understandable, but it doesn’t amount to a good enough reason for absconding.”

Araujo was said to have made the decision to return to the UK “some time ago”, but when the United Arab Emirates went into lockdown he was stranded abroad.

He finally managed to get a flight home and was arrested by police as he got off the plane, understood to be at Stansted Airport, and taken to Bishops Stortford police station.

Appearing before Swindon Crown Court via video link from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning, Araujo, formerly of Haydon Street, Swindon, admitted breach of bail.

Adding 14 weeks to his sentence, Judge Jason Taylor QC told the man: “The reality is you spurned the trust I placed in you after your conviction and we are now almost 12 months down the line. I understand you were scared but your selfish actions in flying to Dubai...have cost time, money and resources.”

Araujo worked for the Santana drugs line, which between February 2016 and March 2017 sold almost £100,000-worth of heroin and crack cocaine in Swindon.

Then aged 20, the Swindon man was picked up on Gladstone Street in March 2016 with heroin, £200 cash and two mobile phones. Hidden in lead flashing nearby were more wraps of heroin and crack cocaine.

There was evidence Araujo had continued to work for the line. When a crack den on Whitney Street was raided in November drug wraps found at the house contained the man’s DNA. There was a one-in-a-billion chance the DNA belonged to another, the court heard.

At the sentencing hearing in February, barrister Mark Ashley said his client had been working for higher-ups. “A busy runner, it seems on the evidence before the court, but very much being controlled by others.”

Araujo had denied conspiracy to supply class A drugs, but was found guilty at his trial in June.

A co-defendant, Ali Dini, remains at-large.