Colin Hendry Admits Harassing Ex-Girlfriend

Former Scotland football captain Colin Hendry has admitted harassing his ex-girlfriend over a two-month period.

Hendry, 49, pleaded guilty to sending unwanted text messages and emails to beautician Sarah Kinder after she ended their relationship in March this year.

He also accepted that he made unwanted visits to her home in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, and twice threw stones at her bedroom window.

An allegation of common assault against Hendry was dropped after Ms Kinder retracted her statement in which the footballer was said to have grabbed her by the arm several times as she tried to get in a taxi.

Ms Kinder attended court but was not required to give evidence in a scheduled trial after the Crown offered no evidence on the assault charge.

Sentencing was adjourned until August 20 for the Probation Service to carry out a report.

Hendry, of Coopers Row, Lytham St Annes, was told the sentencing options ranged from a custodial sentence to a community order.

He began seeing Ms Kinder following the death of his wife Denise, 42, in 2009 following botched cosmetic surgery.

She broke off the relationship in late December 2014 but they were reunited on February 21 this year, the court was told.

Hendry received a 17-month ban from the road earlier this year after he admitted drink-driving in Lytham in the early hours of February 21.

He was previously reported to have "bombarded'' Ms Kinder with text messages following the first split and was given a harassment order.

Ms Kinder went on to finally end the relationship on March 3 and Hendry's catalogue of harassment followed from that date until April 18.

Hendry enjoyed a long and successful playing career as a central defender and captained his country in the 1998 World Cup. He appeared for a series of clubs including Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers and Rangers.