Pop star cleared of race charges, but court finds her guilty of assault

The pop singer Cheryl Tweedy was found guilty yesterday of punching a lavatory attendant at a nightclub after taking a handful of lollipops without paying.

Tweedy, 20, a member of the band Girls Aloud, gave Sophie Amogbokpa a black eye after drinking a substantial amount of alcohol at The Drink nightclub in Guildford, Surrey, on 11 January, Kingston Crown Court was told.

The singer was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm but cleared of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm. She was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay her victim £500 in compensation and prosecution costs of £3,000.

Judge Richard Haworth told her: "This was an unpleasant piece of drunken violence which caused Sophie Amogbokpa pain and suffering. Her eye was painful for three or four weeks, there was bruising for three months and for a while she had blurred vision. You showed no remorse whatsoever."

The attack took place in January this year while Tweedy's band, which was formed from contestants in the ITV show Popstars: The Rivals, were recording their first album in Surrey.

Tweedy had drunk a cocktail of three vodkas, a glass of red wine, two glasses of champagne and a "shooter" of strong spirits.

After Mrs Amogbokpa, 39, a part-time law student, stopped her from taking the lollipops without leaving the customary tip, Tweedy charged at her, the court was told.

Mrs Amogbokpa alleged that the singer had called her a "fucking black bitch" before punching her. But the claim did not appear in her first police statement. Tweedy, from Newcastle upon Tyne, denied she had shouted racist abuse and said she acted in self-defence after Mrs Amogbokpa struck her. Her claim was supported by a fellow band member, Nicola Roberts, who told the jury she had seen the incident. After the verdict, Tweedy released a statement which said she was "stunned and disappointed" by the conviction.

She added: "I'm pleased that the trial is over and thankful that the jury has accepted that this incident has nothing to do with race. I am not a racist and anyone who knows me knows I would not say anything racist ... I would like to thank my family, friends and fans for their support over this difficult year."

Outside the court, Detective Constable Russ Cannon, who led the investigation, said: "The conviction in court, following a thorough investigation, sends out a clear message that offences of this nature will not be tolerated. ABH [assault occasioning actual bodily harm] is a serious offence and will always be dealt with accordingly," he said.

The singer, who is one of five children, was raised on a council estate and enjoyed rapid success after winning a place in the made-for-television band.