A pensioner has turned up to court 13 years too late after a spell in the Far East.

Michael Murray was due to be sentenced at Dolgellau magistrates court in 2005 for seven offences for downloading indecent images, but two days before had told his solicitors he was in China.

Murray, 76, formerly of Lache Lane, Chester, yesterday admitted breaching his bail and was jailed for six months. Next month he will be sentenced for the child images offences after a probation report is received.

Judge David Hale was told at Caernarfon Crown Court that Murray had been arrested at Heathrow on Saturday after flying from Australia, via Beijing.

Jonathan Austin, defending, said in 2005 magistrates at Dolgellau had sent him to the crown court for sentence, but he failed to appear, stating he was in China, where he worked. It appeared he had worked there as a teacher.

Murray, in poor health, did not expect to leave the UK again.

Judge Hale told Murray: “This was a deliberate decision by you to avoid dealing with the matter back in 2005.”