The founder of Dabs.com, David Atherton, has been charged with attempted rape and possession of Class A drugs.

Atherton, who sold his business to BT in April 2006 for £30m, is in custody after appearing in court in Bolton earlier this week.

A spokesman for Manchester Police said: "A 50-year-old man has been charged after a woman was sexually assaulted.

"Anthony David Atherton (born 02/03/1958) of Victoria Road, Heaton was charged with attempted rape, threats to kill, false imprisonment and possession of a class A drug on Tuesday 19 August 2008.

"He appeared at Bolton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 19 August 2008 and was remanded in custody."

The well-known channel character will appear in court 31 October. The offences are alleged to have happened on Sunday.

Atherton famously built the business from scratch, and it is now one of the UK's largest computer dealers.

More at the Manchester Evening News. ®