A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a man accused of rape after a court heard he is no longer in the country.

Apostol Asenov, 31, was due to appear at Workington Magistrates’ Court on Monday to face two charges of rape and a charge of engaging a female in a non-penetrative sexual activity.

But the defendant, of New Street, Whitehaven, failed to attend court. The offences are alleged to have taken place in Whitehaven on October 23, 2022.

Prosecutor Pamela Fee said the Crown Prosecution Service had received information from the police on October 31 stating that Asenov had breached his bail conditions by failing to sign on at Whitehaven Police Station. It was believed he had left the country.

It was then discovered he had flown to Bulgaria on October 21. The court heard that enquiries were now being made into whether Asenov had purchased a return ticket.

Magistrates issued a warrant for the defendant’s arrest.