A MAN who failed to attend a court hearing after being found guilty of attempting to launder money in a £1 million drug smuggling trial has surrendered himself to police.
Lorry driver Michael Hatton, aged 38, of Thistleton Road, Bolton, walked into Bolton Crown Court yesterday, police said.
He failed to attend the final day of the drugs trial last Friday, when he was found not guilty in his absence of a charge of drug trafficking. Hatton had been accused of smuggling cocaine and heroin in a lorry airtank.
A day earlier he was found guilty of attempting to launder the proceeds of the drug smuggling. A warrant was immediately issued for his arrest.
Thomas Bradley, aged 37, of Knightswood, Bolton, a mechanic with Liverpool-based Vic Davies Transport, was found not guilty of drug trafficking and walked free from court.
Company boss Victor Davies, aged 48, of Stratton Road, Platt Bridge, was found guilty of importing drugs and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Hatton is due to be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court tomorrow.
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