THE owner of a string of award-winning Indian restaurants has appeared before magistrates charged with the manslaughter of a customer who ate a takeaway curry.

Northallerton Magistrates Court heard restaurateur Mohammed Khalique Zaman would also face six charges in relation to health and safety, one charge of perverting the course of justice and an employment offence under the Immigration Act, following the death of bar manager Paul Wilson, of Helperby, near Thirsk.

The 38-year-old father, who had a severe peanut allergy, bought a meal from The Indian Garden, Easingwold, and died hours later from anaphylactic shock in January 2014.

The incident came months before the introduction of a law requiring food businesses to provide allergy information on all unpackaged food.

Mr Zaman, 52, who owns seven Indian restaurants in Easingwold and York, including the Jaipur Spice chain, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address at Northallerton Magistrates' Court.

Magistrate Ron Stead sent the case, which is believed to be the first of its kind, to Teesside Crown Court for a hearing on May 8.

He granted Mr Zaman bail on condition he surrendered his passport, lived at his home in Huntington, York, and notified police if he planned to leave the country.