Leeds Star Faces Arrest For Court No-Show

26 March 2012, 16:04 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A Leeds actor, who shouted racial abuse at his girlfriend, is being hunted by the police after not showing up in court for sentencing.

24 year old James Howson, who starred in the 2011 big screen adaption of Wuthering Heights, previously pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated harassment of Shakira Ramdihal.

He was the first black actor to play Heathcliff in the film.

Howson won the role after he went to auditions advertised on a Jobcentre wall.

Leeds Magistrates' Court heard last month that Howson, of Haslewood Close, Leeds, shouted racist abuse at his former girlfriend after their three-year relationship ended.

The court heard that their relationship turned sour after Ms Ramdihal became pregnant.

Howson went to his ex-partner's family home on November 18 last year and banged on the window, shouting racist threats.

Howson was initially due to be sentenced last month, but the case was adjourned after he was sentenced under the Mental Health Act.

His solicitor, Anthony Sugare, told the court that he had been discharged from a hospital in Newcastle on Thursday.

He was due to be sentenced at Leeds Magistrates' Court on Monday morning but failed to attend. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.