EXCLUSIVE: Irish man arrested in Sussex facing extradition over supply of drugs worth 13K euros

A IRISH MAN who is facing extradition to Ireland to face drug supply charges after he was arrested in Sussex.

Simon Bracken, 53, from Brightling Avenue, Hastings, east Sussex, was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant late last year.

He is wanted in Ireland to face charges of escaping from lawful custody, possession of drugs with the intent to supply and possession of drugs with a market value of more than 13,000 euros with intent t o supply.

WANTED: Bracken from a Sussex Police appeal in 2013 (Sussex Police)

At a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, Bracken was remanded in custody to appear at a further hearing later this month.

Bail was refused due to the likelihood he would abscond and the seriousness of the offences.

The court heard he is getting legal aid to fight against extradition.

Sussex Police has issued at least two appeals for information about his whereabouts over the past few years.

In July 2013 it wanted to trace him in connection with an assault on a woman who was said to be known to him who received injuries after being struck in the face.

He was then known to use the alias Bertram Bloomfield.

He was described as being “white, 5’ 11”, of medium build with a scar on his upper lip, a skull and eye symbol tattoo on his right arm and a bird of prey tattoo on his chest."

In August 2014 they issued another appeal for his whereabouts after he skipped bail while awaiting trial over an assault.