An arrest warrant has been issued for the ex-husband of Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone after he failed to attend court.
Gold dealer James Stunt did not appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning where he was due to face charges of abusive and threatening behaviour towards a police officer.
He did not give reasons for his absence or attempt to arrange to attend the hearing remotely.
The businessman, 38, faces one charge of racially-aggravated harassment of Pc Richard Harper close to his address in Knightsbridge, west London, on June 22 last year.
He is further charged with a lesser offence of harassment of Pc Harper on the same date.
The defendant married socialite Ms Ecclestone, daughter of F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone, in Italy in 2011.
They had three children together – a daughter followed by twin boys – but divorced in 2017.
Prosecutor Simon Maughan confirmed that a court summons had been sent to Stunt in mid-December via recorded delivery.
Mr Maughan said Stunt had also been informed of the charges by the police.
Magistrate Alan Elias issued a warrant for his arrest.
