Judge orders arrest of footballer

Gary Charles admitted assault at a previous hearing

A judge has ordered the arrest of ex-England soccer star Gary Charles after he failed to appear in court.

Judge Andrew Hamilton issued a warrant to detain the former Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa full back.

Charles, 34, was due at Derby Crown Court for allegedly breaching two orders issued in May this year.

The orders were issued after he pleaded guilty to attacking a woman while drunk in Alfreton, Derbyshire, in 2003.

England appearances

He was put under a curfew and ordered to pay £500 to his victim.

Charles was also ordered to undergo alcohol testing and warned he faced custody if he failed to work towards beating his alcoholism.

When Charles, of Stretton, Derbyshire, failed to appear on Friday, Judge Hamilton ordered a bench warrant to be issued.

He said Charles would held in custody if arrested.

The right back won two England caps and played six times for the under-21 side.