A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of a man accused of cheating a pensioner out of tens of thousands of pounds.

Shaun Salat was due to appear at Swindon Crown Court on Friday facing charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.

But the 32-year-old failed to turn up and Recorder James Watson QC issued a warrant without bail for his arrest and detention.

Salat, of Sleightholme Court, Trowbridge, is accused of two counts of theft, six of fraud and two allegations of money laundering.

It is said that he stole £7,915 in cash and withdrew £22,060 from a 65-year-old's bank account in October last year.

He is also said to have transferred £9,500 of the man's money from a genuine bank account to a fraudulent one.

It is said he also applied for loans, and got goods, using the elderly man's bank details in April, October and November last year.

Salat is also charged with stealing a flick knife, car keys, and an ornamental German military dagger from another man in November.

As well as issuing a warrant the judge also set down a timetable for service of the prosecution case and said a plea and case management hearing would take place on Friday, May 2.