A NOTORIOUS gangster who threatened to “end” young England star Ross Barkley’s
football career was on the run from cops today.
Police were called earlier this year when a chilling tweet was sent from Sam
Walker’s Twitter account to the 20-year-old Everton midfielder.
The messages raged: “Inbox me a number for you, ya little rat! You know wot
this is about so don’t play stupid or your footie career will come to an
end!”
It is understood the pair fell out after Barkley’s ex-girlfriend started
seeing convicted drug dealer Walker.
They clashed earlier this year in Liverpool nightclub Playground – a popular
WAG hangout frequented by the likes of Abbey Crouch and Alex Gerrard.
Police confirmed they visited Barkley after a call from a third party about
separate threats toward the footballer but he declined to make a complaint.
Walker, 31, was not charged with any offence in connection with the young
footballer.
But he was facing jail after being found guilty of being in possession of
counterfeit cash and ecstasy pills at Liverpool Crown Court last month.
He failed to attend court for sentence yesterday and a warrant was issued for
his arrest.
Walker, of no fixed address, was jailed in 2010 for being part of a heroin and
crack cocaine gang.
His sentence was later extended after he was found to have left a threatening
message on a police officer’s mobile phone.
In 2008, internet pictures of Walker in prison emerged which showed him
apparently smoking a spliff.
And despite being behind bars, Walker was registered on social networking site
Flirtomatic, where he boasted about his sexual conquests.
Barkley, from Wavertree, Liverpool, has made a total of 45 appearances for
Everton, scoring seven goals. The star has also been capped for England nine
times.