The rollercoaster life of former Belgo boss Tim Power has taken another downturn, with news that police have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Police have launched a search for Mr Power, who was a key figure in Belgo's takeover of the renowned Ivy and Le Caprice restaurants, after he failed to appear in court to answer eight motoring charges.

Mr Power faces five couts of fraudulently using a regisration mark, and three counts of fraudulently using a vehicle licence, relating to his �70,000 Ferrari convertible.

But while he pleaded not guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing, he failed to appear at a session in Blackfriars Crown Court on 16 January.

Rise and fall

The news represents the latest in a series of recent setbacks for Mr Power, who rose from being a barman in London's King Road to managing a restaurant in Paris.

But his real breakthrough came after he married Chantal Brenninkmeyer, heiress to the Dutch dynasty behind a retail empire including the C&A chain.

He joined Belgo in 1996 at the beginning of a period of rapid expansion, which saw turnover surge from 890,000 five years ago to a �35.7m last year.

As operations director, he played a part in Belgo's �25m takeover in 1998 of a group of elite London restaurants including The Ivy, renowned for its patronage by the rich and famous.

But also in 1998 his marriage crumbled, ending in a divorce which saw Mr Power's wife win custody of their two children.

Mr Power resigned from Belgo the next year.

He was charged with the motoring offences last June, and is receiving legal aid for his defence.