A REWARD of £5,000 has been posted for information which helps track down a major figure in a York heroin gang.

Alfred Philip Dear was part of a group that supplied heroin and Class A drugs into York.

Dear skipped bail partway through his trial at Leeds Crown Court in October.

He was found guilty in his absence of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and a judge signed a warrant for the 45-year-old’s arrest, but he is still on the run.

North Yorkshire Police issued a public appeal in November to help track down Dear - formerly of James Street Caravan Site in York.

Now Crimestoppers has posted a £5,000 reward to encourage people to come forward ahead of a planned sentencing on December 20.

A statement released by the charity said: “He is the head of an organised crime group who were involved in the large scale supply of Class A drugs, namely heroin, into York from outside of the county. Alfred Dear has served prison sentences in the past for the supply of heroin and possession with intent to supply heroin, and for affray and assault.”

Gemma Gibbs, from Crimestoppers, added: “Alfred Dear has a history of criminal activity and we are appealing to people who might know where he is to contact us, with the promise that you will remain completely anonymous.

“At Crimestoppers, our charity believes everyone has the right to feel safe from crime and from intimidation. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Dear, then we want to hear from you. Everyone who contacts us stays 100 per cent anonymous. Always. We’ve kept this promise for over 30 years.

"When you call our UK Contact Centre on 0800 555111 or use our anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org your information could help keep someone safe from harm. No-one will know you contacted us, and it could be your information that makes a huge difference.”

Dear also previously gave his address as Corbridge Close, Hull, and North Yorkshire Police said he also has contacts in Osbaldwick.

To qualify for the reward, information must be passed directly to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or through an online form at crimestoppers-org.uk.