By Simon Quicke
26 August 2008
The founder of dabs.com has been released from custody after agreeing a £10m
bail package.
Anthony David Atherton had been charged with a string of offences including
attempted rape, possession of class A drugs and making threats to kill.
He was granted bail by Bolton Crown Court
after agreeing a £10m surety. He was bailed to the Priory clinic in Cheshire where he has
been ordered to follow an in-patient programme for a month, which will be
followed up with weekly sessions.
50-year old Atherton who sold dabs.com to BT in
2006 for £30m, was remanded in custody earlier this month by Bolton Police.
MicroScope reported last week that the
millionaire web entrepreneur is due at Bolton Crown Court on 31 October.
The police were called to an address in Bolton on 17 August and a woman later made allegations
against Atherton who was arrested on the scene.
Atherton was one of the online pioneers in the
channel and launched Dabs Direct in 1990 before selling up to
the telco giant several years ago. He has since had no involvement with
the company.
