Watchdog presenter Dan Penteado has been issued with an arrest warrant after failing to turn up to court over allegations of benefit fraud.
The 40-year-old is accused of claiming £24,000 in council tax and housing benefit fraudulently while he worked for the BBC.
A Dorset police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that an arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Penteado over allegations of benefit fraud."
The presenter, who has worked on the BBC's Rogue Traders programme, part of Watchdog, since 2001, is said to have claimed he was a student.
The Guardian reports that Johanne McNamara, prosecuting for Bournemouth borough council, telling magistrates that
"Mr Penteado was claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit on the basis that he was a full-time student with a family; he received benefit on that basis. Over a period of time his position has changed. He was actually employed on BBC's Rogue Traders programme as a motorbike rider.
"There are a number of offences. Some relate to failing to disclose a bank account which his wages were paid into, others relate to failing to notify a change in his circumstances when he was hired by the BBC."
The BBC have said they cannot comment on the case because it involved a pending court case.
“There has been contact between us and Dan Penteado but because this is a private matter and a court case we are not commenting.”
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