Conman flees sentencing

Mohammed Adris pleaded guilty to theft

A conman who stole thousands of pounds from devout Muslims has fled his court sentencing and is wanted by police.

Mohammed Adris defrauded worshippers who were trying to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

He was due to be sentenced on Thursday morning but apparently ran away from Burnley Crown Court.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Among his victims were more than 100 Muslims from Nottingham who gave him £75,000 to organise their trip.

Instead the failed businessman, from Accrington in Lancashire, kept the money.

Some of the victims were from the Madni Mosque in Nottingham.

Airport arrest

Mosque spokesman Mohammed Kahn said: "At the last minute when they were told (the trip) was not possible, they were very upset.

"There was misery in the community as a whole and there was some fall-out in the families."

Police had arrested Adris at a hotel near Manchester Airport after complaints from Muslims in Nottingham, Lancashire and Bury in Greater Manchester.

He was planning to fly to Spain to start a new business.

He has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft but claims he always intended to pay back the money.