A MAN who fled to America to avoid a jail sentence after being found guilty of assaulting a Salisbury bar owner has been arrested and is facing extradition.

In July 2009 Moses Tomas was found guilty in his absence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after he assaulted Alex Nettle outside Kludo bar on Milford Street and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The authorities had let him keep his passport and he travelled to America before the trial to visit his family.

He later told his solicitor he had no intention of returning to Salisbury to stand trial.

Tomas, an American national, was tracked down by the authorities and arrested in San Diego.

He has been remanded in custody will face an extradition hearing on February 5, after which he can be sent back to England to begin his sentence.

“It has been a long wait but a lot of work has been going on to bring him to justice,” said Mr Nettle.

“It is a relief for me and also for my parents. It’s not a case of him being out of sight out of mind.

“It has been very difficult and it is time for justice to be done.”

The jury at Salisbury Crown Court heard that Tomas repeatedly punched Mr Nettle and kicked him in the head during the assault on July 9, 2008.

Mr Nettle spent three days in intensive care and five weeks in hospital after the attack.

He was left with brain damage and suffered multiple facial fractures and severe bruising and swelling.

After intensive rehabilitation Mr Nettle was able to return to work at Kludo and has since opened another bar.

Wiltshire Police said Tomas had appeared at all of his pre-trial hearings, had a family and job in Salisbury and there was no reason to suggest he would not appear to stand trial.

Therefore they had not felt it necessary to take his passport away.