A MAN who failed to turn up for his trial saying he was undergoing heart surgery has been remanded in custody by a judge.

James Harding, who is accused of dangerous driving, told his lawyers he couldn’t make it to court last summer as he was going under the knife in Oxford.

But after no trace could be found of him attending or having appointments at the John Radcliffe Hospital, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

At an earlier hearing the court heard his details had been given to all hospitals in the city.

However, no trace could be found of him being a patient anywhere and there was no record of him undergoing surgery.

When he was brought before the court on the warrant his solicitor said that rather than needing a lifesaving operation he had been living in Swindon and working for Honda.

Harding, formerly of Roman Way, Chippenham, admitted a charge of failing to surrender to custody in August.

Mike Pulsford, defending, said: “He has been working in the Swindon area.

“He has not been living at home with his mother.”

He said he had a flat in Groundwell Road, in the town, and was working at Honda through an agency called Mainline.

Mr Pulsford said his client’s girlfriend, who lives in Malmesbury, is pregnant and Harding wanted to be given bail so that he was able to keep his job.

But Judge Tim Mousley QC remanded Harding in custody awaiting a trial.

The defendant is said to have been behind the wheel of a Citroen C2 which was driven dangerously in Bath Road, in Chippenham, on Saturday, December 12, 2015.

Harding also pleaded guilty to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and to driving without insurance.