QML formatted TextArea tab character

[phaikawl]

How do I display a tab character in QML TextArea with formatted text?
I tried multiple ways but none works:

• use html 	 (no tab displayed)
• use \t (no tab displayed)
• <pre>\t</pre> (this one displays the tab but there's always a trailing newline after that, don't know for what reason)

Please don't tell me to use   instead, it's different from tabs and it's important for me.
I don't believe QML cannot accomplish this simple task.
Any help?