MMA champion on the run over drug crimes as people warned 'do not approach'

dailystar.co.uk:

MMA fighter wanted by police over drug offences is on the run – and the public has been warned not to approach him.Darren Towler has been found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs in his absence at Teeside Crown Court, with police officers now attempting to track him down ahead of sentencing.

Towler had previously been jailed for three years and three months back in 2016 for being found in possession of 12g of cocaine, £2,300 cash and 2,000 ecstasy tablets.The MMA fighter, whose car had stored the thousands of ecstasy tablets, was released later that year on licence.The cage fighter lifted the UCMMA title in 2011 and fell from grace soon after when he was caught transporting ecstasy tablets after meeting with a contact in a Newcastle pub car park.He was also found in possession of cocaine and cash when officers were sat in waiting for him at a Toby Carvery pub in Kingston Park.

Durham police are currently attempting to locate Towler, from Consett, County Durham, after he failed to attend his trial on March 22 of this year for offences of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.The trial was heard at Teeside Crown Court on March 31 in Towler's absence, who was found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, TeesideLive reported.A sentencing hearing for Towler and co-defendants John McNaughton, 34, Anthony Thurlow, 28, Terrance Duffield, 42 and Sean Hornsby, 48, all found guilty, is set to take place on May 12 and 13.A Durham Police spokesman said: "Towler is described as 6ft 3ins tall and of large build.