British Sikh activist to surrender before police

A British Sikh co-founder of a far-right group that protests Islamic extremism, who fled from jail ahead of a court hearing last week, will reportedly hand himself in to police.

The trial of Guramit Singh Kalirai, a 31-year-old English Defence League(EDL) activist, was going on at Nottingham Crown Court for taking part in an attempted armed robbery but he fled ahead of the court hearing.

He was given a jail sentence for six and a half years in his absence last week, the International Business Times reported.

Guramit, along with two accomplices - Andrew Wheelhouse, 31, and David Mura, 26 - was accused of tying up a shop assistant and threatening to slash his throat in a failed robbery bid in Nottingham.

Fugitive Guramit proclaimed his innocence in a Facebook post after being found guilty of a violent robbery.

In his message, the former EDL leader claimed he was stitched up by police and said he would turn himself in only when he has a new lawyer.

Guramit is a senior member of the EDL and also led its Sikh faction. Members of the group wear T-shirts with the slogan, "Don't freak, I'm Sikh".

"The police are playing a very harsh game with me for whatever reason, I decided to not turn up to the trial knowing this was not going to be a fair outcome," Guramit was quoted as posting in the Facebook account.

"I have been in touch with the metropolitan police and have agreed to hand myself in," he added.