BBC Presenter Wanted On Fraud And Failure To Appear In Court

Dan Penteado, a presenter on the BBC programme Rogue Traders is wanted by police after he failed to appear in court on Wednesday morning.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Mr Penteado's after he did not show up at Bournemouth Magistrates Court to answer charges of fraud.

Penteado, 40, from Westbourne in Bournemouth, is accused of taking more than £24,000 of housing and council tax benefit whilst at work for the BBC.

In his absence the court heard that he has also failed to respond to letters of enquiry sent to him by Bournemouth Borough Council.

Johanne McNamara, prosecuting for Bournemouth Borough Council, told magistrates that Penteado,  stated he was a student to claim the benefit from 2008 to 2012.

Since 2001 he has been the sidekick of Rogue Traders star Matt Allwright. For those who know the programme, Penteado is regularly seen on the show wearing leathers and riding a motorbike as he and his co-presenters confront suspect tradesmen.

A BBC spokesman said he was unable to comment on the matter as it related to a pending court case and was not a BBC issue.