Judge issues arrest warrant for James Stunt, 38, as he fails to show at court

An arrest warrant was issued today for the ex-husband of Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone after he failed to attend court on charges of verbally abusing a police officer. 

Gold bullion dealer James Stunt, 38, is accused of threatening PC Richard Harper at his multi-million pound mews home in Knightsbridge, southwest London, last summer. 

He failed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning and, if found, will be taken into custody. 

Stunt was charged with racially or religiously aggravated harassment and one of using threatening, abusive or insulting words to cause harassment or distress. 

Prosecutor Simon Maughan said Stunt was notified about the charges on 17 December and was due to appear today but there has been no contact from the defendant or his lawyer.

Magistrate Alan Elias said: ‘In the case of Mr James Stunt we issue a warrant for his arrest and no bail.’

In November, Stunt appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court with his girlfriend Helena Robinson charged with possession of cocaine, damage to a police cell, assault, harassment and theft said to have been committed between 5 and 7 August.

He is facing a crown court trial for those matters.

Last month Stunt’s former bodyguard Justinas Ivaskevicius, 34, was cleared of stealing a £515,000 diamond ring from a safe in his £10 million home after a trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Stunt has not entered a plea to one count of racially or religiously aggravated harassment and one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words to cause harassment or distress.

He moved to his three-bed home on the street worth £4.5 million after he split from the Formula One heiress.