THE leader of a multi-million pound drugs ring is being hunted after he went on the run from a Darwen bail hostel.

John Barber, disappeared halfway through his trial at Liverpool Crown Court and was convicted of conspiring to supply heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine in his absence last week.

He is thought to be with Victoria Dudson, 22, from Manchester, who is four months pregnant and used to work at the defence firm which represented him.

Barber had to report to Darwen police station everyday over the festive period, but then failed to turn up in court on January 3 when the trial recommenced.

Items were found after a search at his bail address which suggested he may have left the country.

There are seven men in the drugs ring. Lee Bonney, Alan Bentley and Carl Entwistle were found guilty of conspiring to flood the streets of Bolton with drugs.

Bentley was also sent to a Darwen bail hostel, while Bonney was sent to an address in Haslingden. Brian Roper and Martin Wright pleaded guilty to the charges before the trial. Billy Webb, who police said was central to the ring, was shot dead in his flat last year.

The gang came from the Greater Manchester area and those convicted were due to be sentenced today.

The drugs ring was believed to be the sole supplier of heroine, cocaine and crack cocaine in Bolton. The operation was smashed after police bugged their headquarters with a hidden microphone.

Insp Gerry Donnellan, of Greater Manchester Police's drugs unit, said: "Barber was of the main orchestrators of this organisation and we will continue in our efforts to find him and do not allow him to escape the punishment he deserves.

"Our inquiries to locate and arrest Barber are ongoing and we believe he is in the company of his girlfriend Victoria Dudson."