A JUDGE has issued an arrest warrant for a Cardigan man who failed to attend his court hearing.

Liam Jones, aged 20, had been sent to Swansea crown court for breaching court orders imposed for a £6,500 burglary at the town's Grosvenor hotel in Bridge Street.

But he failed to turn up and judge Geraint Walters instructed police to arrest Jones and to hold him in custody until he could be brought before the court.

Sophie Hill, prosecuting, said Jones had breached a suspended prison sentence of nine months, suspended for 18 months.

She said Jones, of Medical Hall, Pendre, Cardigan, had once worked at the hotel. He had been dismissed but returned to burgle the premises.

Various conditions had been attached to the suspended sentence but, after an initial meeting with a probation officer, Jones had failed to respond.

"In fact," said Judge Walters, "apart from that first meeting there's been virtually no compliance."