A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a businessman who failed to turn up at court to be sentenced for VAT fraud.

Charles Gordon Holt originally denied charges brought by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of fraudulent evasion of VAT and possession of articles for use in fraud.

The offences cover a four-year period to August 2017 when false invoices were submitted by Holt for a technical solutions company registered to Stanwick, near Richmond, claiming repayment of £62,307, to which the business was not entitled.

But, on the day his trial at Durham Crown Court, last month, he changed his pleas to guilty to both counts.

The 68-year-old defendant, of Raby Chase, Summerhouse, near Darlington, was bailed to return for sentence at the court yesterday.

But after he failed to appear Judge James Adkin issued the warrant for his arrest, to be sent to both the police and HMRC, who both have the authority to make the arrest.

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