Seventies pop idol David Cassidy will have to appear in court to face Dui charges related to an arrest last summer (13) after he was caught playing bowls instead of attending a plea deal hearing on Wednesday (30Jul14).

The former Partridge Family star was initially allowed to forego an in-person appearance at Schodack Town Court in New York because he lives in Florida, where he is reportedly undergoing substance abuse treatment.

But an unfortunate tweet from the New York Horse Racing Association has landed him in trouble after officials revealed he was playing bocce with two trainers at nearby Saratoga Race Track while the plea deal was being discussed.

Carmelo Laquidara, the assistant district attorney overseeing the case, learned of the tweet and called the episode "odd and disturbing".

He says, "Once we were made aware of that, we no longer consented to any plea agreement being done through the mail, through his attorney."

Cassidy will now have to be present in court for the next hearing on 3 September (14).