A judge has lost patience and ordered that a pensioner who has repeatedly failed to appear in court will be tried whether he is there or not.
William Gething-Lewis, aged 70, who has a home in Broadmoor, has been facing prosecution for almost three years accused of receiving state benefits he was not entitled to.
Gething-Lewis is living in Greece and, over the years, has told Swansea crown court several times he is too ill to travel.
Judge Geraint Walters said he had issued a warrant for Gething-Lewis’ arrest backed by bail so he could come back to Tenby and make use of the National Health Service.
On Friday he reissued the arrest warrant but withdrew bail.
“He knows where he is going when he steps foot back in the country,” said Judge Walters.
The court set April 23 for Gething-Lewis’ trial, which will go ahead with out without him being present.
Gething-Lewis is accused of failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions and Pembrokeshire County Council that he owned shares and was receiving income from them.
As a result, it is alleged, he received benefits he was not entitled to.