Darts champion under fire over text messages

Recently married darts world number one Michael van Gerwen has allegedly been caught out attempting to set up an intimate rendezvous with another woman.

According to The Sun, van Gerwen sent sleazy text messages to 24-year-old Stacy Owen, inviting her to a hotel room, just eight months after the 25-year-old Dutchman married his childhood sweetheart.

It is reported van Gerwen, who won the World Championship last year, first spotted Owen in the crowd at one of his matches in the U.K before obtaining her phone number and sending a procession of suggestive text messages.

Owen played along at first but when she discovered van Gerwen was already married, she decided to make the text messages public.

“He is a disgrace. He needs to be exposed for what he is - a dirty rat,” Owen told The Sun.

The Dutchman has since published a statement on his Twitter account acknowledging messages were sent but denying there was "any physical relationship" involved.

"I deeply regret my decision to exchange messages with Stacey Owen and my decision to meet her whilst I was already in the UK to play in the premier league," the statement reads.

"I wish to make clear that there has never been any physical relationship between Ms Owen and myself.

"My primary concern is for my family and my wife Daphne, who I apologise to unreservedly. My hope is that people will now allow me to move forward and focus on my performances on the oche."