A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a man who allegedly mistreated a boa constrictor.

Dominic Ash, of Ashley Road in Poole, is accused of three offences relating to the snake.

Prosecutors for the RSPCA claim the alleged offences were committed at a barber shop in Ashley Road on dates between May and June last year.

Ash, 30, is charged with one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to provide it with an adequate supply of clean, fresh drinking water and two counts of not taking all steps as were reasonable to ensure the needs of an animal were met by failing to provide it with a suitable living environment and protect it from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

He was due to appear at Poole Magistrates' Court this week. However, he did not attend and magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest.