Arrest warrant issued for ex-Sunderland coach Leroy Lita after court no-show | OneFootball

An arrest warrant has been issued for former Sunderland AFC coach Leroy Lita after he failed to attend York Magistrates Court.

According to Sunderland Echo, he was listed to appear on 10 August and, on 11 August, magistrates confirmed he had not turned up and ordered his arrest without bail. He had been scheduled for 10am and no verdict or sentence could be reached in his absence.

Lita, 41, had been charged with driving while disqualified and driving without third party insurance after his arrest on 23 June on the A1(M) between junctions 45 and 46 near Wetherby. That arrest came the same day he admitted drink driving at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.

He received an 18-month ban, a £777 fine, a £311 victim surcharge and £300 costs. Judge Passfield warned at the time that driving while disqualified could lead to a jail term.

At the time of publication, Lita had not been arrested. He is no longer employed by Sunderland AFC.

His conviction followed a stop and breath test in Shields Road, near Cleadon, at 11.50pm on 18 January 2026. The former striker enjoyed a 16-year career, featuring for Reading in the Premier League and also Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City. He had initially pleaded not guilty, alleging an error in the breath test reading.

Source: Sunderland Echo

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