Police have appealed for help finding a man who slipped away from Croydon Crown Court in south London while attending a hearing for a series of serious drug offences.

The 26-year-old is believed to have fled on foot toward neighbouring boroughs with links to multiple areas and officers are urging anyone with information to come forward quoting a reference number when calling emergency services, as detectives continue urgent enquiries.

In a statement from the Met, it explained the circumstances of the incident, it read;

"On Tuesday, 17 March at 16:03hrs, the Met was informed by the prison service that Abu Faye, 26, from Hackney, had left Croydon Crown Court during a hearing for drug-related offences.”

Police analysis of CCTV footage indicates Faye was captured departing the court at just after 16:00hrs and subsequently made off on foot, heading away from the venue toward surrounding districts, leaving officers to mount a search for his whereabouts.

Detectives have confirmed Faye is known to have connections to areas including Penge and Cambridge, as they work quickly to trace his movements since his departure from the hearing.

He had been facing a range of drug charges, including five counts of possession with intent to supply along with five charges for possession of Class A and Class B substances, prosecutors told the court before he absconded.

At the hearing Faye admitted guilt to the charges relating to possession of controlled drugs, which prompted the judge to order his remand into custody, but rather than being taken into custody he made the decision to flee the court building.

Officers from the Met have been conducting immediate and extensive enquiries into Faye’s disappearance, including reviewing all available CCTV and other investigative leads, as they appeal for public help to trace him.

Police have stressed that members of the public should not approach Faye if they see him, instead they should call 999 immediately and quote the incident reference CAD 4966/17MARCH to assist the ongoing investigation and ensure his swift and safe return to custody.