AN ARREST warrant has been issued for a Romanian man who failed to attend court to face charges relating to an alleged road side scam in North Yorkshire.

Ilie Benone Catulete, from Middlesbrough, has been charged with fraud in relation to an incident in which a 76-year-old motorist from Northumberland was said to have been flagged down on the A1 slip-road between Wetherby and Leeming Bar on April 3.

The man is alleged to have told the driver he had no fuel and offered foreign currency in exchange for money, which had little value.

Mr Catulete is also alleged to have stolen a mobile phone from the man.

Yesterday (Friday, April 29) the 40-year-old, from Peaton Street, Middlesbrough, failed to appear at Northallerton Magistrates for his hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.