A Gillingham man who attacked a teenage Tube passenger with a knife and then paid to have himself smuggled out of the country has been returned to Britain and is now in jail.

Ahmed Bero, of St Mary's Road, was sentenced to six years in prison in December for slashing the 17-year-old's face.

The 23-year-old (pictured right) was dealt with in his absence after failing to answer court bail - and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Bero was discovered hiding in France and was now been deported back to Britain.

He was met by British Transport Police officers at Heathrow Airport and driven to Blackfriars Crown Court in London.

Bero admitted paying to have himself smuggled out of the country in a lorry on the day he went missing.

He pleaded guilty to an extra offence of absconding while on bail and was jailed for another four months, to run consecutively.

Bero was found guilty in December of causing grievous bodily harm and possessing a knife.

The attack happened on a Bakerloo line train at Paddington underground station in October 2011.

The court heard an argument broke out between Bero and a 17-year-old. When the youngster tried to leave the train, Bero slashed him across his face, causing a two-inch cut that needed 12 stitches.

A second victim, a 19-year-old man, was also slashed across the face. Bero denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury.

DC Richard Guinan, from BTP, said: "This was a vicious attack and caused significant injuries to the two men.

"Despite Bero's denial, the evidence and the injuries tell another story.

"Incidents like this are fortunately very rare on the Tube but we treat them very seriously.

"We welcome the sentence handed down to Bero and hope it sends out a clear message that carrying and using weapons will not be tolerated by the police service, community, or the courts."