A 28-year-old Pembroke man was arrested at the Airport on Tuesday, more than a year after he fled the country.

Stephen Thompson was charged last year with wounding taxi owner Neville Andre Greene with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but he left the country on the second day of his trial after firing his lawyer.

Because he was not deemed a flight risk, he was never made to give up his travel documents.

Despite his absence, Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves continued the trial, during which it was said that Thompson originally approached Mr. Greene about a small amount of money.

When Mr. Greene told him the matter was out of his hands, Thompson became aggressive and began waving a knife at Mr. Greene.

Mr. Greene produced a baseball bat from the trunk of his car and, during a short scuffle, Mr. Greene sustained an eight-centimetre cut to his neck.

Thompson was found guilty by a jury in his absence and Justice Greaves sentenced him to seven years imprisonment, saying: "In the opinion of this court, this defendant is a very dangerous man.

"In the midst of the trial he concocted a plan and duped the lawyers, judge, police and everybody."

He then added: "Justice has long arms. It will always catch you when you fall."

Thompson arrived back on the Island on Tuesday night on an American Airlines flight from New York and, acting on information, Customs officials and Police officers were waiting for him at the L.F Wade International Airport.

Thompson was arrested at around 10.40 p.m. after being processed by Customs, and yesterday he was transferred to Westgate Correctional Facility to begin his sentence.