A MAN who was involved in a £100,000 drugs plot in Rishton has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

David Stuart, 35, became one of Lancashire’s most wanted men when he went on the run before a trial in 2005.

He was found on the streets of Barcelona and brought back to this country earlier this year.

Stuart, formerly of Gugal Lane, Hambleton near Poulton-le-Fylde, pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, in July 2004.

The offence concerned the seizure of 20,000 ecstasy tablets from the boot of his vehicle on the car park of the Roebuck Inn, Preston Crown Court heard.

Before he disappeared, Stuart had set up his own funeral directors business, Ashworths and Sons in Blackpool.

Charles Brown, prosecuting, said Stuart was observed leaving work in full funeral directors wear and driving a hearse on July 9, 2004.

He drove to a house in Blackpool where he changed vehicles.

He then drove to Rishton and met up with co-defendant Simon Day at a house on Walmsley Street.

After a few minutes they headed on to Burnley Road and then a farm track near Whitewell Road.

The defendant returned to the pub’s car park, where he had left his girlfriend.

Stuart was then approached by the police who found 20,000 ecstasy tablets.

Day was previously handed a seven-year term. Stuart was jailed for 38 weeks after admitting a bail offence.

The four-and-a-half years term will run consecutive to this.

A third man allegedly involved, Paul Padden, was never apprehended.

Judge Christopher Cornwall accepted that Stuart’s involvement had been limited but couriers still played a ‘vital’ part in drug dealing.