A MUSSELBURGH man who assaulted a woman by striking her with a flip flop has failed to turn up to court for sentencing.

Steven Hillhouse, of Newbigging, admitted the assault on the woman by hitting her to the face with the footwear at the town’s Manse Lane when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year.

Sentence had been deferred for social work reports and an assessment by the domestic abuse organisation Caledonian Men’s Programme to last Thursday.

But when the case called, Sheriff John Cook was told that the 32-year-old was not in attendance.

Sheriff Cook issued a non-appearance warrant for his immediate arrest and he is expected to appear from custody for sentencing in the near future.

Hillhouse admitted assaulting the woman by striking her to the face with a flip flop on July 22 last year.