AN ARREST warrant has allegedly been issued for ex-Premier League star Daniel Sturridge after he failed to appear in court over £24,400 he was ordered to pay a man for finding his lost dog.
The 34-year-old publicly offered a reward for the safe return of his Pomeranian in July 2019 after it had been stolen from his Los Angeles home.
A man named Foster Washington, also known as rapper Killa Fame, took credit for reuniting Sturridge with his dog.
However, he then claimed that he never received the promised reward and subsequently launched a civil lawsuit.
In December 2021, a Los Angeles court ordered the former Liverpool star to pay $30,000 (£24,400) after he failed to respond to the initial complaint.
Sturridge was called back to court last month, but the Daily Mail have reported that he did not attend.
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He has now been served a bench warrant – a summons issued by a judge to arrest a defendant and bring them before court.
A new hearing has been set for November 30.
Sturridge’s representatives did not respond to The Mail for comment.
The ex-Liverpool striker, who left Anfield in 2019, claimed that he paid a reward after a court hearing in 2021.
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He tweeted: “Just to let you know the truth at Christmas. I met a young boy who found my dog and paid him a reward, which he was delighted with, as was I to get my dog back because he was stolen.
“Other people are trying to benefit for their own personal gain. Thank you to the young boy once again. I’m very grateful Lucci is back with our family.”
However, Washington told The Mail: “For me, it’s a point of principle. He promised me the money. It’s a substantial amount of money that could change my family’s life.
“He thinks he is above the law. He thinks because he’s rich he doesn’t have to respond to what’s going on. That’s why I had to have the judge issue a warrant so he has to pay the money.”
Sturridge has not played professional football since leaving Perth Glory in 2022.
At the beginning of this season, he was named as a new Sky Sports pundit.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
