A disabled man who failed to appear in Court to be sentenced for slashing a have-a-go hero with a cut-throat razor has been arrested by police.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of mugger William Meskiri by Judge Roger Scott at Bradford Crown Court a week ago.

Meskiri had been bailed to be sentenced following an earlier hearing, but failed to appear at the city court on Monday, December 1.

He faces a long jail sentence after admitting robbery and malicious wounding.

The 29-year-old was spotted by a sharp-eyed uniformed police officer in Bradford city centre on Saturday. He was arrested and is due to appear at the city's Crown Court today.

Electrician Leslie Hayton went to the aid of teacher Jill Evans in October 2000 when she was attacked by Meskiri in Bradford city centre. Mrs Evans, who was leaving a bank with her two children, suffered a broken thumb when Meskiri snatched her purse.

After hearing her cries for help, Mr Hayton, 46, chased him.

He cornered Meskiri and was cut across the face, inches from a major vein.

Although Meskiri, of Harewood Street, Barkerend, Bradford, escaped from Mr Hayton, he was tracked down three years later by detectives who used DNA from a watch he dropped at the scene.

Meskiri, who is dependent on sticks to walk, later broke his back after he jumped over a 60ft drop while being chased by police in 2001 in connection with a separate offence.

He admitted the charges when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court last month but Judge Scott was told last Monday that he had failed to attend an appointment for a pre-sentence report.

Police appealed for Meskiri's whereabouts, but warned people not to approach him.