Rangers player Kyle Hutton has been given a lecture in court after going on a foreign trip with team-mates instead of turning up to face a speeding charge.

Justice of the Peace John Stewart blasted the Scotland under-21 star for snubbing the court and warned him he would be arrested if he did it a second time.

Hutton arrived at Perth's JP court on Thursday to deny a speeding charge a week after failing to show up. His lawyer claimed he was busy boosting the Scottish economy by travelling to Sloevnia to play with Rangers in the Europa League qualifying match against Maribor. He ended up playing no part in the fixture at all as his team lost 2-1.

Mr Stewart said: "This is a continued intermediate diet because you failed to appear. I hope I have impressed upon you that you should have been here. As I have said to your agent - when you are cited to court you must attend court unless there's a very good reason. Do you understand that?

Hutton said he did understand, while his solicitor Barry McCormack told the court that his client was continuing to deny speeding at 101 miles per hour. Mr McCormack claimed last week on his client's behalf that Hutton had skipped court to travel to Slovenia The solicitor claimed that by doing so he was providing a service to the people of Scotland because his contribution would help the ailing economy.

At the time, Mr McCormack told the court: "Scottish football is in dire straits at the moment and how Rangers do in Europe affects the country's co-efficient in future. That in turn affects the economy.

"Mr Hutton is a young man starting out his professional career. This is a crucial game for him and for Rangers. There is an economic advantage to the country as a whole, not just to the individual concerned. The income generated by Scottish involvement in the Europa League is potentially significant."

Hutton, 20, of Cambuslang, denied the speeding charge on the A9. He will go on trial on September 13.