A Preston man who was convicted of distributing racist material, has skipped bail and fled to the United States to claim political asylum.

Stephen Whittle was given bail by a judge at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, after he was found guilty of a series of race-related offences.

He was due to return to court on Monday, July 14, while a jury continued deliberating over further charges, but he did not turn up.

On Tuesday night the 41-year-old, from Avenham Lane, Avenham, was held by immigration officials at Los Angeles Airport.

It is believed Whittle travelled with his co-defendant Simon Sheppard from the UK to Ireland by ferry before taking a direct flight to Los Angeles.

A police spokeswoman said: “The two defendants failed to appear at court and a bench warrant was issued by the court judge and HP circulated an all ports warning.

“We are liaising with the US embassy to confirm where exactly they are and what will now happen to them.”

Whittle was convicted of five counts of publishing racially inflammatory written material.

Four of the verdicts were reached unanimously on Friday, and the fifth was returned by a majority of 10 to one on Monday after Whittle had absconded. Simon Sheppard, 51, of Brook Street, Selby, North Yorkshire, was also found guilty after a seven-week trial of nine counts of publishing racially inflammatory written material on a website.

The jury were unable to reach verdicts on seven further race-related charges which Sheppard faced.

The prosecution said Sheppard and Whittle were racists who held what might be regarded as fairly extreme views about people who were Jewish, black, Asian or Chinese.

The case is due to be considered further at a hearing at Leeds Crown Court on July 28.