Paul Flowers faces arrest after failing to appear for sentencing on fraud charges involving almost £100,000.
It’s because he skipped his fraud sentencing. He had admitted to fraud, amounting to almost £100,000. He abused his power as an executor for a woman named Margaret Jarvis.
The court heard Flowers stopped talking to his lawyers. A solicitor warned him about missing court, which happened Thursday night. The judge then issued the warrant.
Flowers won’t be released on bail. He had cited health problems before, causing previous hearings to be canceled. A similar warrant was issued in 2023.
The judge acknowledged Flowers’ mental health issues. Jail is likely for such a crime, given the victim was vulnerable. That might explain his absence from court.
Flowers is from Salford. People called him the “Crystal Methodist” after a video surfaced showing him giving money for drugs in 2013. He earlier admitted in court to possessing drugs and was fined £400 back then. He possessed cocaine, crystal meth, and ketamine.
Flowers resigned from the Co-op Bank years ago, after a huge £1.5 billion financial gap emerged. He once served as a Labour councillor. Financial regulators banned him from the industry, stating he wasn’t fit to work there. He made inappropriate calls and discussed illegal drugs by email.