Acting Deemster Alastair Montgomerie has ruled the trial of an alleged drug dealer won’t go ahead in his absence.

The court heard Thomas Kevin Tonneson had been arrested at his home in Kingswood Avenue, Douglas in March 2008.

There, drugs squad officers found eleven grammes of cocaine worth around ?950, almost ?2,500 in cash and drugs paraphernalia including electronic scales.

Mr Tonneson was due to stand trial in July this year and was granted bail, but failed to report to police in early March.

The court heard he had left the Island and an arrest warrant had been issued. However, his whereabouts were still unknown.

The prosecution in the case argued he had gone missing voluntarily and the case could go ahead without him.

But in a judgement, Acting Deemster Montgomerie said he was confident police were doing all they could to find him and return him to the Island to face trial.

He declined to vacate the trial date.