THE owner of three Indian restaurants is to appear at court charged with tax evasion.

Motin Miah, of Dugwell Close in Ferndown, faces four allegations connected to the Joy eateries in Charminster Road, Charminster, Ringwood Road, Ferndown and Seabourne Road, Southbourne.

The 41-year-old was due to appear before magistrates in Poole on Friday, September 8.

However, he did not attend the hearing and a warrant for arrest with bail was issued.

Miah is charged with two counts of cheating the public revenue on dates between April 1 2010 and October 15 2015 by failing to register his restaurants for VAT and failing to account for VAT on sales made.

He is also charged with two counts of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of income tax on dates between April 6 2007 and April 5 2015.

Officers from HM Revenue & Customs were seen visiting the Southbourne restaurant in October 2015.