A SUSPECTED burglar has appeared in court 14 years after he was first summoned.

Ian Daniels failed to attend a court hearing back in April 1991 after being charged with burglary - an offence he has always denied.

He then disappeared until police arrested him earlier this year.

Mr Daniels told Warrington Crown Court last month that he did not turn up to the plea and directions hearing 14 years ago because he had been placed under a lot of pressure not to by the person who had really committed the burglary offence, who Daniels had originally refused to name.

The court heard how the 43-year-old had now turned his life around, getting into a steady relationship and fathering two children.

The initial offence was alleged so long ago that prosecutors said they could not find the original court file on Mr Daniels or the police one.

And a CPS solicitor told the judge: "There is liitle prospect of one (a file) being found."

Judge David Hale told Mr Daniels, of Quebec Road, Warrington: "You have still committed an offence of failing to surrender."

He granted the CPS more time to find the file relating to the burglary charge.