A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Craig Elliott, 32, who was convicted and sentenced in his absence this week for sexually assaulting an underage girl.

Elliott was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault by touching a girl under 13 on the third day of his trial at Durham Crown Court. The trial began on Monday afternoon after Elliott failed to appear, with suggestions that he may be in Ireland.

Both offences are alleged to have occurred in early October of last year. Elliott, formerly of West Crescent, Easington Colliery, but residing in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland while on remand, denied both charges at a plea hearing on November 2.

The case proceeded to trial this week, following several mentions, a ground rules hearing, and the pre-recording of the victim's cross-examination.

Following the jury's guilty verdicts, Judge James Adkin sentenced Elliott to 40 months in prison. He also ordered Elliott to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

The Crown intends to seek further restrictions through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order for the victim's protection, upon Elliott's arrest and appearance in court.

In the meantime, Judge Adkin issued a bench warrant without bail for Elliott's arrest.