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Cops hunt ex-Ireland star Anthony Stokes after he fails to appear for sentencing

“He didn’t attend the appointment, therefore a warrant will be granted for his arrest.”

Yesterday at 14:18

UK cops are hunting for former Ireland football star Anthony Stokes after he failed to appear in court for a third time, it has been reported.

Ex-Ireland and Celtic striker, Stokes (35) was expected at Hamilton Sheriff Court in Scotland on Thursday for sentencing for sending offensive messages to his ex-girlfriend and her family.

The former Arsenal player never showed and his defence lawyer confirmed he has ‘no explanation for his absence’ with a warrant to be issued for his arrest, according to reports in the UK.

Stokes admitted to hassling Eilidh Scott with a string of vile texts in 2019 during which he reportedly called her a ‘s**t’, and a ‘w***e’.

The footballer also reportedly showed up at her home in the middle of the night.

The Dubliner was given a four-year non-harassment order against his ex and her parents but continued to message Miss Scott and her father George. He is also said to have hassled his ex’s mum.

Sheriff Macfarlane reportedly told the Scottish court yesterday: “He didn’t attend the appointment for the social work report and is not here today therefore a warrant will be granted for his arrest.”

A warrant for Mr. Stokes’ arrest was first issued in 2021 after he failed to appear to be sentenced over the charges.

Stokes was arrested in Northern Ireland in July 2022 and appeared in court via a video link. He was eventually granted bail but failed to appear in court again resulting in a second arrest warrant being issued.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed Stokes would be part of a Hibs Legends XI that will face-off against a star-studded Man Utd Legends team at Easter Road in two weeks time, with his appearance now in doubt.

These incidents are not Stokes’ first run-ins with the law. In 2017, he received a two-year suspended sentence for headbutting Elvis impersonator Anthony Bradley at Buck Whaley’s on Leeson Street, Dublin, on June 8, 2013.

Stokes offered €30,000 as a token of his remorse when he appeared in the Circuit Court and committed to paying the amount, but reportedly never followed through on that promise.

Mr Bradley also took a separate successful civil action in the High Court against Stokes, saying that he effectively gave up his career as an Elvis impersonator after the former Ireland striker headbutted him, leaving him with a broken nose and damaged teeth.

Stokes didn’t attend that civil action, and was ordered to cough up €230,000 in damages in 2017.

Separately Stokes had a prosecution for a separate alleged head-butt attack on an English tourist in Dublin’s Temple Bar struck out because the victim did not want to travel to Ireland for the case.

Stokes had denied the charge of assault causing harm to Fraser Spratt at Fitzgerald’s pub on Aston Quay in Dublin on March 16, 2019 and claimed he acted in self defence.