Boxer Herbie Hide fails to attend drugs trial

The former world champion boxer Herbie Hide is facing arrest after he failed to attend court on drug charges, saying he was suffering from malaria in a Nigerian clinic.

The 41-year-old was due at Norwich Crown Court accused of conspiring to supply cocaine. The charges followed a newspaper investigation. But his barrister, Michael Clare, told the court: “His wife Helen telephoned my instructing solicitor to say he was suffering from malaria and was in a clinic in Nigeria.”

Ian James, for the prosecution, said Mr Hide was given permission to leave the country for seven days at an earlier hearing but he was now in breach of the terms of his bail.