A HERBAL doctor charged with sexually assaulting a man has fled to China, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Dr Gu Zu Sun, who used to work at the Dr & Herbs treatment centre in The Cornmill Centre, Darlington, has had a warrant issued for his arrest after he failed to appear at South Durham Magistrates' Court.

He was charged with a sexual assault on a man last year, a charge he denied. Although he appeared in court last October, he failed to attend in January.

Dr Sun - who speaks no English - has now been traced to China, where it is claimed he is too ill to return to England.

However, authorities say they have no medical evidence to support this, and only have a note that expired several months ago.

Patrick Fox Roberts, 72, a friend of Dr Sun who stood his £3,000 bail, was summoned to court after Dr Sun's non-attendance - but does not have to pay the money, after it was discovered the bail payment was not renewed at Dr Sun's court appearance in December.

Mr Fox-Roberts told The Northern Echo: "He (Dr Sun) was not able to get back to England because he was too unwell. But now I've got absolutely nothing to do with it, and am so grateful to the court for finding out I hadn't.

"He doesn't speak English, and he was in a police cell and was desperate, I paid the money to help him out."

A member of staff at Dr & Herbs yesterday confirmed Dr Sun was in China, but said that they had had no contact with him since he left.

A police spokesperson said: "Both the police and courts are very keen to locate and catch anyone who has not answered bail."

Durham Police asked anyone who can provide information on Dr Sun to contact 0845 6060365.