A Swindon man who had been given three months to prove he’s a ‘changed man’ before sentencing has twice swerved court.

Lee Mapstone was behind bars at HMP Bullingdon, near Bicester, in February when he was caught with a contraband mobile phone, that he was using to contact his girlfriend and family members after a close friend was stabbed to death.

The 23-year-old was due to be sentenced in September but Judge Nigel Daly deferred sentencing for three months, giving Mapstone a chance to prove he’s changed after a period of heavy offending.

Mapstone, formerly of Willows Avenue, has more than 40 convictions on his record for 85 offences.

The sentence was deferred with the conditions that Mapstone live with his mother in Weston-super-Mare, commit no further offences and do what he can to get work.

He was due back in Oxford Crown Court on Monday (December 4) but failed to show up. It was relisted for the following morning but again, Mapstone failed to show his face.

His barrister stated he had messaged his mother claiming to have had panic attacks and anxiety but no contact has been made with his legal team.

Judge Daly issued an arrest warrant after telling the court he had no other option.