Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand faces being arrested
and held in custody after he failed to turn up for a court
appearance.
He was due to appear at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Monday
after being convicted of driving while using a mobile phone, but he
never arrived and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Ferdinand, brother of England captain Rio, is facing a driving
ban due to the fact he already had nine points on his licence when
he was caught using the handset behind the wheel.
A spokesman for Northumbria Police confirmed the warrant without
bail had been issued for his arrest, which means that when he is
traced by officers he can be held in court cells before being
produced to face magistrates.
The force spokesman said: "There has been no arrest at this
stage. A warrant has been issued and we are aware."
The offence in question occurred on the morning of July 13 when
Ferdinand was seen in his white Range Rover on Newcastle's Central
Motorway.
He was travelling from his home at Baltic Quays in Gateshead to
Newcastle International Airport, where he needed to catch a flight
ahead of a pre-season friendly.
soccernet