AN ARREST warrant has been issued for a drug dealing accused Greenock man who failed to turn up at court and is 'at large' in the community after fleeing from hospital.

Patrick Arkley is one of three people charged with being concerned in the supplying of cocaine but the 28-year-old was absent from the latest calling of the indictment case at the town's sheriff court.

His solicitor, Aidan Gallagher, told the indictment hearing that Arkley started a 28-day order at a mental health unit earlier this month but 'has absented himself and is at large'.

Mr Gallagher previously said 'further investigation' is required regarding his client's fitness for trial moving forward.

Co-accused Connor Murray, 28, and Paula Kelly, 43, were present in the dock as they maintained pleas of not guilty.

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It is claimed that Murray, whose address was listed as Erskine in court papers, was concerned in the supply of the class A substance at properties on Lynedoch Street and Cathcart Street in Greenock between August 30 and September 6, 2022.

He was also allegedly found in possession of the drug at the town's police office on September 6 in 2022.

It is alleged that Arkley was concerned in the supply of cocaine in Cathcart Street over the same period while he was on two sheriff court bail orders, made in August 2022.

The Crown allege Kelly was also concerned in the supply of the drug at her own flat in Cathcart Street on September 6, 2022.

Sheriff David Pender granted a warrant to apprehend Arkley, and a three-day jury trial is scheduled to start on March 25.