A MAN who sneaked back into the country after being deported to Norway was tracked down to a room at the Last Drop Village hotel.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Mohamed Egal returned to live in Jessie Street, Bolton, in October last year. Police found him there hiding under a bed.

He was handcuffed but as he was led to a police van he gave officers the slip and ran off.

Justin Hayhoe, proescuting, told how he was traced to the hotel on October 11 and, in the room was a woman and a large quantity of cash.

Egal, aged 23, was found at a shop nearby and initially tried to claim he was someone else, producing a friend's driving licence and bank card which he had used to book the room. He eventually revealed his real identity when it was pointed out that he did not match the photograph on the document.

He pleaded guilty to escaping from custody, breaching immigration law, possessing an improperly obtained driving licence and theft of handcuffs.

Adam Watkins, defending, said Egal, of Somali heritage, was born in Norway and came to the UK aged nine, with his mother and siblings.

After being deported following a drugs conviction he found he he knew almost no one in Norway and so came back to Bolton.

"He found the pull of family too great to resist," said Mr Watkins.

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Egal to 10 months in prison.

"He was so determined to have his own way and be at large in the UK that he was not bothered what laws he broke," said Judge Stead.