A LANCASTER criminal is still on the run - a week after fleeing from Manchester Crown Court.
Debt collector and antiques dealer Damien O'Connor disappeared from the court building, in Crown Square, last Wednesday.
He was awaiting sentence after being convicted at an earlier hearing of money laundering.
The 43-year-old, of Blea Tarn Road, had denied laundering £100,000 in a scam organised by the Balkan mafia.
His co-defendant, Preston antiques dealer Brian Beck, was jailed for seven years.
Judge Anthony Hammond described the scam as involving 'many, many millions'.
O'Connor and Beck were involved in smuggling cigarettes into the country and then laundering the proceeds, charges which O'Connor denied.
They were convicted after a two-year HM Customs and Excise investigation.
Judge Hammond immediately issued a warrant for O'Connor's arrest when he disappeared from the court after answering his bail.
Anyone with information should call the police on 01524-63333 or Crime-stoppers in confidence on 0800-555111.
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