Ex-Celtic star Anthony Stokes released on bail after two years on the run
EX-Celtic ace Anthony Stokes was finally in court almost a year after a warrant was issued for his arrest – and was then released on bail.
The 35-year-old footballer had been due to be sentenced last September for bombarding his ex-girlfriend Eilidh Scott with offensive text messages.
But he failed to appear and the court was told he had ignored calls from social workers trying to create background reports on him.
It emerged he flew from Dublin on Tuesday and handed himself into a Glasgow police station where he was held overnight.
Sheriff Ross Macfarlane KC branded him a potential ‘flight risk’ but granted bail after hearing he had secured an address in Scotland.
He will also have to sign on at London Road police station every Tuesday and Saturday until his next court appearance.
The striker will stay at a flat owned by Donald Hughes, father of businessman Barry Hughes.
Matthew McGovern, defending, said: “He failed to attend an earlier diet last year and there are no reports currently available.
“I understand why you would have deemed him a flight risk and his status is the issue here.
“One proposal would be to have him on a curfew and have him sign on at a police station.
“He flew himself over at his own expense and handed himself in.
“He has an address in Dublin but I have explained the issue the court would have with that and he has provided the address of a friend who lives here.”
Sheriff Macfarlane deferred sentence and called for new background reports to be prepared.
Stokes is set to appear again next month.
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