A suspected thief whose image went viral because he resembles the Friends actor David Schwimmer has absconded from court.

A district judge in Blackpool issued a warrant for the arrest of Abdulah Husseni on Tuesday after he failed to answer his court summons on charges of theft and fraud.

Lancashire constabulary was inundated with comments from social media users in October after it posted an image of Husseni, who was wanted over the theft of a jacket, mobile phone and wallet. The image went viral as people noticed he looked like Ross Geller, Schwimmer’s character in the US sitcom.

Hundreds of people commented on the force’s Facebook post with references to well-known lines from the show. One wrote: “Shouldn’t he be at work … or is he on a break?” Another posted: “I bet he was shouting ‘PIVOT’ as he picked those beers up.”

The actor then tweeted a statement and video parodying the image released by police, denying responsibility and insisting he had been in New York at the time of the alleged crime. “Officers, I swear it wasn’t me. As you can see, I was in New York,” he said. “To the hardworking Blackpool police, good luck with the investigation.”

schwim (@DavidSchwimmer) Officers, I swear it wasn't me.

As you can see, I was in New York.

To the hardworking Blackpool Police, good luck with the investigation.#itwasntme pic.twitter.com/EDFF9dZoYR

Husseni, 36, of Slough, was arrested in Southall, west London, in November after items were stolen from a restaurant in Blackpool in September. On Tuesday, the district judge Jane Goodwin issued an arrest warrant after he failed to attend a court hearing at 9.30am.

Lancashire police had previously made it clear Schwimmer was not a suspect. “Thank you to everyone for your speedy responses,” the force said. “We have investigated this matter thoroughly and have confirmed that David Schwimmer was in America on this date. We’re so sorry it has to be this way.”