A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of Ipswich Town footballer Carlos Edwards after he failed to appear in court to face driving offences.
The Trinidad and Tobago international is to be banned after admitting a number of driving charges.
He has admitted two counts of driving without third party insurance, driving without a licence and driving without an MOT.
A warrant for the 32-year-old’s arrest was issued by magistrates yesterday after Edwards failed to attend a hearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.
As Edwards already has six points on his licence, his new offences will take him past the 12 point limit and result in a driving ban when he is apprehended.
The charges relate to two incidents - one in Ipswich and one on the A14 near Bury St Edmunds in January this year.
Edwards, of Coprolite Street, Ipswich, was allegedly driving a Mercedes car on the A14 at 8.30am on January 22 when he was stopped by police.
He later played and scored the winning goal in Ipswich Town’s 3-2 win over Doncaster Rovers that same day.
Edwards pleaded guilty by post to driving without third party insurance, but has yet to enter pleas against charges of driving without an MOT and without a licence for this incident.
Edwards was then stopped by police in Duke Street, Ipswich, at 9.30am on January 28. He was allegedly driving a Land Rover at the time.
During yesterday’s court hearing it was revealed that Edwards had pleaded guilty by post to driving without insurance, without an MOT and without a licence in relation to this charge.
Prosecutor Colette Griffiths said: “The fact that Mr Edwards has admitted two counts of driving without insurance and already has six points on his licence means he will go over 12 points and get a ban.”
Edwards played 42 games for the Blues this season, filling in at right back at times and chipping in with three goals.
He has been capped 70 times by Trinidad and Tobago and also played for Wrexham, Luton Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Former town boss Roy Keane signed Edwards in a joint £4 million deal along with his Sunderland team mate Grant Leadbitter in September 2009.