A DRUG-dealing pub boss who absconded from prison and went on the run to Thailand has been extra-dited back to the UK.

Nigel Hunt, 39, was jailed for five-and-a-half years in 2004 after undercover officers found him selling ecstasy from the toilets of Rawtenstall’s Sun Inn.

Hunt, formerly of Schofield Road, Rawtenstall, and Rosewood Avenue, Haslingden, absconded from Kirkham prison in 2006.

Police believe he was hiding out in Thailand and Spain.

He was arrested at Madrid airport on February 19.

Police said Hunt was one of Lancashire’s ‘most wanted’ men.

After he was jailed, police carried out a financial inv-estigation into Hunt’s affairs and he was ordered to pay back £83,380 he had made from crime.

Failure to pay would have added an extra 20 months to his sentence. This order was due to start when he absconded and officers believe this was his motive for fleeing.

A European arrest warrant was initially granted for Hunt in December 2006 as Lancashire officers liased with Interpol to hunt him down.

He was traced to Thailand, where it is thought he had been living for some time.

Officers then discovered he was due to get on a flight to Spain.

He was extradited to the UK on Thursday and was taken to Leyland police station. He was due to appear at Chorley Magistrates’ Court yesterday.