A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a banned motorist who failed to appear at court to be sentenced for dangerous driving.

Stewart Richards admitted the charge, plus driving while disqualified and without insurance, when he appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe, last month.

It followed his arrest over the manner of his driving in a Renault Kangoo van, in Willington, on Friday August 11, last year.

The van was said to have left Cambridge Avenue, crossed pedestrian and cycle paths, onto the A690, Park Street and St Thomas Close.

Due to their limited powers, the magistrates sent the case to Durham Crown Court and bailed 29-year-old Richards, of Ashcroft Gardens, Bishop Auckland, to appear at the sentencing hearing.

But, when he failed to appear, his barrister, Andrew Finlay, told the court Richards had been contacted by his solicitors’ firm and claimed to have been working in Liverpool, but said he did not know when he would be able to return.

Recorder Eric Elliott said it was not a “good enough” explanation and issued the warrant for Richards’ arrest.