A sailor who was facing up to two years in jail for being drunk in command of a supertanker has been unable to be sentenced because immigration officials will not let him back into the country due to his conviction.

Ukrainian, Valeriy Velychko, admitted being six times over the legal limit for alcohol when he appeared at Teesside magistrates' court in the summer.

He also pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer who was trying to remove him from the gigantic 23,600 tonne tanker Kohl 1 at Teesport in July.

But the 53-year-old tanker captain was given bail by magistrates and allowed to return home with his lawyers assuring the bench he would come back to Britain for his sentencing hearing.

However, on the two occasions he tried to re-enter the UK, to attend court, he was turned back by immigration officials because of his criminal record.

At a hearing at Teesside Crown Court, his lawyer explained how on the last occasion, on September 25th, Velychko got as far as Gatwick Airport, where he was detained by British immigration officials.

Despite protesting that he was trying to get to court to be sentenced for a criminal offence, he was placed back on the next available flight to the Ukraine.