A businessman was issued with an arrest warrant when he failed to attend a court hearing for allegedly not paying his council tax.

Former chairman of the Esher Business Guild, Jonathan Dunne, was due at Staines Magistrates’ Court on September 30, for allegedly owing Elmbridge Council £1,767 in council tax and costs from March 2009 up to this year.

But Mr Dunne, who owns the Albert Arms and George Bar and Brasserie in Esher High Street, failed to turn up, so the court was forced to issue the arrest warrant on behalf of the council.

The warrant dictates Mr Dunne, who still is an active member on the business guild, will be arrested and immediately bailed to return to court at a later date.

If he fails to appear once this warrant is executed, he could face being detained, a council spokesman confirmed.

Mr Dunne told the Elmbridge Guardian he did not owe the council any money and the council had told him not to appear at the magistrates’ hearing.

A spokesman for Elmbridge Council said: “The council did not tell Mr Dunne that he did not have to go to court.”

During his time as chairman of the business guild, Mr Dunne controversially announced he intended to inject “sex appeal” into Esher High Street.

He has also been granted planning permission to transform the basement of the George Bar and Brasserie into a casino, but Elmbridge Council’s anti-gambling licencing regulations have prevented the plans coming to fruition.