A COURT has issued a warrant for the arrest of an asylum seeker accused of rape after he failed to appear at court part way through his trial.
Iranian-born Dayoush Vatandoust faced trial before Bolton Crown Court over allegations he raped a prostitute.
But after he failed to return to court after being bailed, Judge Gillian Ruaux discharged the jury and issued a warrant.
Vatandoust had sought political asylum in Bolton last August. He shared a house with other Iranians.
He was arrested within months and charged with raping a prostitute he allegedly picked up in Bolton's red light district.
The prostitute, who cannot be named, previously told the court how Vatandoust had allegedly forced her to have sex and beat her when she resisted.
She claimed Vatandoust persuaded her to go back to his house but, once inside, she changed her mind about having sex with him.
Vatandoust, who denies the charge, had spoken to him on a bus and followed him home.
It is the second time Vatandoust, aged 29, of Bury Road, Bolton, has failed to appear. A new trial will start on a date to be fixed following the warrant being issued.
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