Elvis impersonator assaulted by Dublin footballer urges him to change his ways

• Published date: 20 September 2022
• Publication title: DublinLive (Ireland)

Crooner Anthony Bradley was headbutted by Stokes in a Dublin nightclub and was never paid the €230,000 compensation awarded to him. But he says it's not too late for the Irish footballer to change his ways after he failed to show up at a court appearance in Scotland last Friday

Mr Bradley, who says he's long since forgiven Stokes, 34, spoke exclusively to this paper as police in Scotland issued a warrant for the football star - who remains wanted for sentencing over the harassment of his former girlfriend.

The singer said: "It's not too late for him to turn it around. He made some mistakes, but nothing that can't be put right. Then he can get back to what he does best, on the field.

"I wish him well and suggest that he get himself back on track. Mr Bradley added that he felt Stokes has the ability to prove himself again through football - once he puts his court woes behind him.

He said: "He has the ability to change it all on the pitch."

The warrant for Stokes arrest came after he failed to show up in Hamilton Sheriff Court last Friday - despite being on bail in Scotland having been arrested and sent there from the North earlier this year.

The former Republic of Ireland footballer and Celtic player was banned from contacting his former partner and her mother for four years in September 2019 and was handed four-year non-harassment orders after he admitted stalking. At the time, sentencing was deferred for Stokes to be of good behaviour.

But the footballer later admitted breaching the non-harassment orders by repeatedly sending emails and texts to his former girlfriend and repeatedly calling her mother in November and December 2019. He also admitted causing his ex-partner fear or alarm by repeatedly sending her messages between November 16 and December 3, 2019 in which he did "swear and utter offensive remarks", and by repeatedly telephoning her parents to "utter inappropriate and offensive remarks" about her.

He was due to be sentenced last month but was unable to attend as he had contracted COVID-19. Following his failure to appear in court last Friday, Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen ordered a warrant for his arrest in the brief hearing.

Stokes was capped internationally for Ireland nine times during his career and played for a host of teams including Hibernian and Sunderland. Meanwhile Mr Bradley now...