POLICE are hunting a Swindon man who is facing a seven-year jail term for drug dealing.

Alan Dobson was on bail after admitting a third trafficking offence of class A drugs.

Because it is his third offence he is at risk of a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years behind bars.

But the 36-year-old did not turn up at Swindon Crown Court for the sentencing on Friday.

Recorder Ian Pringle QC issued an arrest warrant for Dobson, who will then be brought to court in custody.

Dobson received a shock earlier this month when he was first due to be sentenced as he realised for the first time that he was facing the seven-year minimum.

At that hearing, his solicitor Rob Ross asked for the case to be adjourned so he could find out more about his previous convictions.

His client attended court on Friday, February 15, when the case was again adjourned to give his legal team more time to find old papers.

Although the law stipulates a minimum seven-year term, a judge does not necessarily have to impose it if he has considered the circumstances of each of the convictions.

And if he finds exceptional circumstances relating to any of the three offences then he can impose a discretionary sentence.

Dobson, of Welcombe Avenue, Park North, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply and obstructing a police officer.

He was caught with the drugs at Swindon Designer Outlet on June 23, last year.

Since then he has been on bail.

An earlier hearing heard that despite breaching the conditions of his bail twice he had retained his liberty.

Dobson was jailed for 18 months in 1997 for a drug trafficking offence and received a probation order two years later for the second matter.