A WHITEHAVEN man facing sentence for illegal syringe possession has been ordered to submit evidence explaining a double failure to attend court.

When 26-year-old Aaron Jones, of The Gardens, appeared in front of a judge last month, he admitted unlawfully having an article with a blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful authority.

The article in question was a syringe which Jones had at Ling Close, Northside, Workington, on August 8.

Carlisle Crown Court heard Jones had been an intravenous drug user at the time.

Advancing some mitigation, his barrister, Anthony Parkinson, had said of that item: “He could have left it at home. He didn’t do.”

A judge heard Jones had a previous similar conviction on this record — dating back to 2014 when he was a juvenile — which could trigger the imposition of a minimum six-month jail term.

The case was adjourned for the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report giving more detail about Jones’ offending and personal circumstances.

He was bailed to return at the crown court last Monday but failed to attend the sentencing hearing.

A warrant for his arrest was issued but swiftly withdrawn after Jones contacted the court office to say he hadn’t attended due to illness.

The case was postponed until Monday but for a second time Jones failed to attend.

Mr Parkinson told Recorder Peter Horgan that Jones had contacted his solicitor to say his bank card had been 'stolen or lost' the previous day.

Jones reported visiting a branch on the Monday morning to withdraw cash but then missed his intended Carlisle-bound train.

The next service was due to arrive in the city just before noon. But Recorder Horgan heard the prosecuting barrister would be unavailable by that stage.

He adjourned the case until Friday of this week but asked Mr Parkinson to make 'three things' clear to Jones.

The first was that he had not yet produced evidence to explain his failure to attend last week.

A second was that he must produce evidence of the bank card loss or theft being reported to the bank or police.

And the third was that he must arrive in time to start Friday’s hearing at 10am.

“If he is not, he should be informed a bench warrant will be issued for his arrest,” warned the judge.