DETECTIVES are hunting a builder who helped set up a Breaking Bad-style drugs lab to cook amphetamine in rural Lancashire.

Darren Henderson, 52, was sentenced to seven years behind bars for conspiracy to supply a controlled drug at Preston Crown Court.

But the dad-of-two went on the run when he saw police at the lab in Earby, and has failed to attend a trial and sentence at Preston Crown Court.

Today, Judge Beverley Lunt sentenced him to seven years behind bars and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Preston Crown Court heard Henderson, of Monkswood Bank, Leeds, played a key role in setting up the amphetamine lab in Victoria Mill, Earby, in May and June last year.

Using his skills in the construction trade he installed tens of thousands of pounds worth of equipment, including a large reactor vessel, capable of producing 100 litres of amphetamine per batch.

For 14 days in May and early June, Henderson checked into the Craven Heifer hotel in Barnoldswick, along with Andrew Hayes and Stuart Mason, while they worked on site.

But unknown to the gang, officers from the National Crime Agency were onto them and, as Henderson arrived for work on the morning of June 6 2018, he saw police and fire crews at the site.

He called his co-conspirators to warn them the police were at the site and fled to London to evade capture.

He has not been seen since.

Judge Beverley Lunt, sentencing Henderson in his absence, said: “The motive was financial gain or in other words, greed.

“You are not an amphetamine addict - you just set out to make a lot of money from those wretched souls who are.

“Police interrupted this conspiracy before the lab could go live and produce anything. No drugs were recovered, but the pictures make it very clear it could have produced large, large amounts of amphetamines…

“There is no doubt you were not just there are a mere builder in your daily business as a labourer.

“You knew what was going on here.”

The judge issued a warrant for Henderson’s arrest. Once he is caught he will be taken straight to prison to serve his sentence and will appear before Judge Lunt on bail act charges.

Detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) have released his image in a bid to track him down.

Henderson is described as white, of heavy build, 5ft 9in tall, blue eyes, short mousey brown hair dyed blond, and wears glasses.

Working alongside the National Crime Agency (NCA), the investigation centred around the creation of two illicit drug laboratories by criminals operating across the north of England.

Detective Inspector Jason Pye, from NWROCU, said: "We are pleased that Henderson has today been convicted in court in his absence, and will continue to act on all information provided to locate him. His co-conspirators are facing a long spell in prison, and now we want Henderson to face the consequences of his actions.

"NWROCU exists to tackle and take down the most serious, hardened and organised criminals who pose a significant threat to our communities, and Henderson and those already sentenced certainly fit the bill.

"We cannot do this work alone and are grateful for our colleagues at NCA and the other police forces involved, for assisting and supporting us during this wide-ranging and ongoing investigation.

“Keep coming forward and if you have any information on the whereabouts of Henderson, please contact police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”