Celtic star Leigh Griffiths is believed to be holed up in the home he shares with his girlfriend as cops probe claims he sent inappropriate messages to a 15-year-old girl.
The Hoops striker has been lying low after it was revealed police are investigating a social media exchange between an account linked to the 30-year-old and the Scottish Premiership youth player.
Griffiths is thought to have returned to his luxury property in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, on Wednesday, after being sent home from Celtic’s pre-season training camp in Wales after the allegations emerged.
Club bosses have also launched their own investigation.
Dental nurse Caitlyn Melville, who has been in a relationship with the father of five for several years, arrived back at his gated home after earlier posting clips of her gym workout to social media.
No one answered the bell at the detached posh pad when we tried to speak to him.
The Scotland international came under fire on Tuesday after a leaked exchange went viral on social media. It appeared to show an Instagram account in Griffiths’ name requesting pictures from the under-16s hopeful – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – calling her “ya cutie” and sending a clapping emoji to an underwear shot she had shared.
In screengrabs of the messages, an account in Griffiths’ name sends two emojis of cameras flashing to the teenager.
She asks, “What do you mean? x” before Griffiths’ account responds, “Nothing, killed it x” with laughing emojis. The account linked to the footballer later replies: “Have a think of it and get back to me x”
A clapping emoji then appears in the private thread on a picture the teen shared of herself in underwear.
The youngster took to her Instagram stories after the messages appeared online, saying she had responded because she is a Celtic fan and felt “privileged” to be in contact with the the Scotland star.
She wrote: “Leigh Griffiths didn’t ask my age therefore he wasn’t capable of knowing. In no way does this make it right but, anyway, hail hail. My age was never mentioned and I’m sure if he knew he wouldn’t have replied.”
Police Scotland confirmed on Wednesday that it had been made aware of the social media content and was “making inquiries and assessing for criminality.” The force said it had no update to give yesterday.
Celtic confirmed Griffiths had left the training camp on Tuesday and said it would “look into this matter carefully”.
It also had no further comment to make.
A source at the girl’s club told the Record she had been given guidance on her social media activity and her parents were spoken to over the incident.
They have also declined to comment.
With his contract expired, Griffiths looked set to leave Celtic this summer.
But new manager Ange Postecoglou last week offered him a shock 12-month deal, saying he had “unfinished business” with the club.
Several attempts have been made to contact Griffiths but no response has been received.
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