Paul Flowers faces arrest after missing court. The judge issued a warrant with no bail due to prior fraud.
His lawyer contacted him Thursday night to inform him of the risks of missing court. Flowers did not show up Friday, prompting the judge to take action.
The judge issued an arrest warrant without bail provision. Flowers had previously cited health issues, causing delays in the proceedings. He missed another court date in 2023, leading to a prior warrant.
The judge acknowledged Flowers’ mental health issues but indicated jail time is likely. The crime involved a vulnerable person, which the judge suggested may explain his absence.
Flowers, from Salford, was infamously called the “Crystal Methodist.” A video surfaced in 2013 showing him buying drugs.
He admitted possessing cocaine, crystal meth, and ketamine, resulting in a £400 fine at Leeds court. This occurred the same year he resigned as Co-Operative Bank chairman following the discovery of a £1.5 billion financial gap.
Flowers, a former Labour councillor in Rochdale and Bradford, was banned from finance jobs. The regulator cited a lack of integrity as the rationale.
He had used his work phone for inappropriate calls and sent explicit emails. These emails contained discussions about illegal drugs.