A MAN convicted of two offences in relation to the break-in at Thwaites Brewery, is wanted by police after failing to attend court.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Patrick Ward, 32, after he was convicted in his absence of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit criminal damage in a trial at Preston Crown Court last week.

He is believed to be on the run and may have travelled to Northern Ireland.

The break-in at the Thwaites Brewery site in Blackburn occurred over the 2018 May bank holiday weekend.

Ward is described as white, around 6ft 3ins tall, of large build with short wavy brown hair and green eyes.

He speaks with an Irish accent and has a tribal tattoo on his left arm and the name ‘Carol’, along with a shamrock tattooed on his right arm.

Ward is a member of the travelling community and has connections across the country as well as in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, where police believe he currently may be.

More than £300,000 worth of damage was caused when the site was broken into and items stolen after a group of travellers set up camp on the grounds on Saturday May 26.

Despite requests from the police to leave, they remained on the site, and on Sunday May 27, Ward, along with others, looted office buildings stealing televisions, computer equipment, alcohol, and electrical copper wiring.

The group were finally moved on by police escort on Bank Holiday Monday May 28.

On Thursday November 22, Ward, along with two other men and a 17-year-old-boy, were convicted and are due to be sentenced on January 11.

Anyone with information on Ward's whereabouts should call police on 101, quoting ED1811359.