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Former Celtic, Arsenal Striker Jailed After Repeatedly Messaging His Ex-girlfriend
Anthony Stokes, a former Celtic and_ Arsenal striker, has recently been sentenced to five months in jail for breaching court orders against contacting his ex-girlfriend and_ her family.
The saga began with allegations of harassment and_ abuse towards his former partner, spanning a period from July 2018 to February 2019. Stokes bombarded his ex-partner with abusive messages, turned up uninvited at her home, and_ engaged in a campaign of intimidation.
His actions violated the trust and safety of his ex-partner and_ also prompted legal involvement to protect her and_ her family.
Despite being handed a four-year non-harassment order and_ being placed on an anti-domestic abuse program in 2019, Stokes continued to go against the court’s orders. He persisted in contacting his ex-girlfriend and_ her family, demonstrating an open disregard for the law and_ the well-being of those he had harmed.
The gravity of Stokes’ actions came to a head when he was sentenced to five months in jail, with the sheriff condemning his behaviour and_ emphasizing the need to protect women from such misconduct.
Sheriff Colin Dunipace, addressing Stokes directly in court, expressed his disappointment and_ issued a serious rebuke.
He said: “It is extremely disappointing for this court to see someone like you, who is a man of some talent and_ ability, who has so much to give and_ who has no doubt brought joy to many, to now find yourself in this situation and_ I find it extremely tragic.
“It is apparent that your former partner fears for her safety, and_ the statements offered by’ her to this court are little short of chilling. You should be under no illusion that this court must protect women from this sort of behaviour.”
Stokes’ defence attorney, Jim O’Dowd, acknowledged the gravity of his client’s actions.
He stated, “Since he has been remanded, there has been quite a sea change in his attitude towards the offences. He now realizes the difficulty and_ upset that his behaviour has caused his victims.”
