AN EAST Yorkshire man who jumped bail after being arrested for drug smuggling eight years ago was jailed for six months yesterday.

Gary Monks, aged 36, of Hildethorpe Road, Bridlington, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful importation. It was stated that he was caught by Customs officers at Gatwick Airport in May 1992 with £8,000 worth of cannabis hidden under his clothing.

Prosecuting at Croydon Crown Court, Christopher May said former pit worker Monks arrived on a return flight from Malaga and a search revealed the drug, weighing just over two-and-a-half kilos.

"He was released on bail and made one appearance at the local magistrates' court, but was not seen after that."

A warrant was issued but, for no reason that anyone could explain, it was never executed until recently.

Elizabeth Smaller, mitigating, said Monks lost his job and panicked when he started running up debts to various people and organisations.

He owed several thousand pounds and when he was told by friends that he could get a living in Spain he decided to give it a try.

"His fare was paid by others and when he got there he found no work.

"He was presented with a quantity of cannabis to bring back to this country as a means of paying off what he owed."

For the eight years since then, he had kept a low profile, but he got married and now had two children, aged six and three, with a third due within a few days.

"He had to make excuses to his family why they could not go on holiday abroad, and he has not even bought a car because he didn't want his name registered anywhere."

"He heard nothing from the authorities until police knocked on his door a few weeks ago and arrested him."