Former Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge is ordered to pay £22,400 to Los Angeles musician

Former Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge has been ordered to pay £22,400 to a man who found his lost dog  in 2019.

Sturridge, now 32, made a plea on social media after his beloved Pomeranian dog named Lucci, who is worth up to £4,000, was stolen after his Los Angeles house was burgled in July 2019, with bags also taken.

The footballer promised a reward of £22,400 ($30,000) to whoever found the pet but Foster Washington, a local musician who found the dog, filed a lawsuit in May  stating Sturridge still owed him the reward money.

A Los Angeles court has now ordered Sturridge to pay Washington $30,085 (£22426) after he did not honour the reward.

Court documents show that a default judgment was given, meaning Sturridge did not answer to the complaint.

Mr Washington, a musician whose rapper name is Killa Fame, said he felt 'let down' by Sturridge.

'Hopefully he pays up and doesn't try to appeal it,' he said after the verdict.

'I'm excited about it, I've been fighting this case for over a year, I can't believe it's over.

'When we found the dog I thought my life was going to be better.'

Mr Washington added he had yet to arrange the payment with Sturridge.

Representatives for Sturridge have been contacted for comment.

Sturridge is an avid Instagram user and this year put out a job advertisement for a barber in Perth, Australia, where he now plays for A-League side Perth Glory.

He also shared a video of himself singing a self-penned coronavirus song earlier this month.