A MAN who knew he might face prison was arrested trying to leave the country, a court was told.

Amer Ali, aged 22, was stopped on Thursday, May 17, in the departure lounge of Birmingham Airport waiting for a flight to Islamabad, Pakistan.

The court heard he was travelling on a ticket with no fixed return date despite being due in court on Friday.

He had been found guilty of assaulting a police officer, criminal damage and a public order offence and was due to be sentenced.

He was also due to face other charges including one of possessing 3.79 grams of diamorphine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply.

Ali, of Windermere Drive, Warndon, Worcester, appeared before magistrates in custody and was immediately committed to crown court for trial on the drug matter. He will face that charge on Monday, June 18.

However, Sarah Brady, defending, said he had paid £200 extra for an open return because he did intend to come back but had wanted to see an uncle he was close to because he knew he could face a prison sentence.

Magistrates remanded him in custody until Friday, June 8, when he will be sentenced for the crimes for which he was previously convicted.

On the same day, a date will be fixed for a pre-trial review for other offences of resisting a police officer and failing to surrender to bail, which he denies