Watchdog presenter Dan Penteado wanted by police over fraud allegations

Watchdog presenter Dan Penteado, who hunts down business owners who rip-off the public on the show, is reportedly wanted by police over allegations he committed benefit fraud to the extent of £24,000.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest following his failure to turn up for a court hearing on Wednesday, reports Mail Online.

Johanne McNamara, prosecutor for Bournemouth Borough Council, told magistrates, “Mr Penteado was claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit on the basis 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.”

Penteado, 40, from Bournemouth is a private investigator who works alongside presenter Matt Allwright on the primetime show ‘Rogue Traders’.

“There are a number of offences,” Miss McNamara said, “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.”

She went on to say that he had received £24,077.60 in housing and council tax benefit which he should not have been paid due to his BBC work.

'We can confirm that an arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Penteado over allegations of benefit fraud,” said a Dorset police spokesman, “It will go to our warrants' department as a normal investigation so we can try and serve it as soon as possible. We will obviously look to try and find out where he is.”

A spokesman for the BBC said: “There has been contact between us and Dan Penteado but because this is a private matter and a court case we are not commenting.”