15 March 2024 , 19:17
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Anthony Stokes has been jailed for five months after he breached court orders with 'chilling' messages to his ex-girlfriend.
Stokes, the 35-year-old former Arsenal and Celtic striker, repeatedly messaged Eilidh Scott and her parents despite the strict court ban. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how the messages were a "little short of chilling," as Stokes was sentenced to five months behind bars.
He has also been banned from contacting Eilidh for five years and her parents for a year.
Stokes handed himself into Motherwell police station last month after failing to appear in court for a third time to be sentenced, flying from Dublin to do so. He appeared from custody in handcuffs after causing repeated delays to the case.
Depute fiscal Fergus Warner told the court: "The accused sent numerous emails, 14 in total, to the complainer Eilidh Scott accusing her of being unfaithful and questioning her ability as a mother. The accused also posted statuses on his social media profiles referencing her cheating on him."
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Jim O'Dowd, who was defending Stokes, said: "Since he has been remanded there has been quite a sea change in his attitude towards the offences. He clearly now realises the difficulty and upset that has behaviour has caused his victims.
"He has been in Addiewell since last month and it has been a particularly unpleasant experience for him because people know who he is and he has had quite a hard time.
"He was kept behind his door for 23 hours per day and this has led to him now understanding how serious these matters are. He advises me he would comply with any community order but knows custody will be uppermost in the court's mind."
Anthony Stokes leaves Hamilton Sherif Court. (Daily Record)
Anthony Stokes bombarded his ex-girlfriend Eilidh Scott with messagesSheriff Colin Dunipace, who sentenced Stokes, said: "It is extremely disappointing for this court to see someone like you, who is clearly 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 the duty of this court is to protect women from this sort of behaviour. You were advised when you were sentenced to a community payback order that it was a direct alternative to custody and yet you have failed to comply.
"I can have no confidence that you would abide by the terms of a further community order."
Stokes playing for Arsenal in 2006 (REX/Shutterstock)
Stokes played for Celtic between 2010 and 2016 (PA)In 2019, Stokes admitted bombarding Scott with a string of abusive messages on WhatsApp and email. He admitted to calling her a string of abusive names, including a 's***', 'sk***' and a 'w****' as well as turning up to her home in Lanarkshire, demanding to know her whereabouts.
Stokes abused Eilidh between July 2018 and February 2019 - and he was handed a four-year non-harassment order against Scott and her parents in September 2019.
An arrest warrant was first issued in 2021, after he failed to appear to be sentenced. Stokes had been in Ireland when he decided to hand himself in, after missing three court dates, last October.
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It has been revealed that Stokes has been locked up in his cell for 23 hours a day over fears for his safety.
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