N-Dubz rapper Dappy denies petrol station affray charges

N-Dubz rapper Dappy has pleaded not guilty to three assault charges ahead of a trial for an offence of affray in connection with a fight at a petrol station which left three men with serious facial injuries.

The singer was arrested on March 12 last year following the incident on the forecourt of a Shell garage in Woodbridge Road, Guildford, Surrey, in the early hours of February 28.

Appearing under his real name of Costadinos Contostavlos, he is to be tried with two co-defendants at Guildford Crown Court.

Following legal argument today, Contostavlos was indicted on two charges of common assault against Grace Cochran and Serena Burton and one of assault by beating against David Jenkins, all of which he denied.

He has also previously pleaded not guilty to the affray charge.

The other defendants in the trial are Kieran Patrick Vassell, 25, of Hammersmith, west London, and Kalonji David Stewart, 32, of Harborne, Birmingham, who are charged with affray, which they deny.

A fourth defendant, Alfred James Miller, 28, of Brentford, west London, pleaded guilty to affray and his case was adjourned for sentencing at the conclusion of the trial.

Contostavlos, 25 - who performed with N-Dubz alongside his cousin and X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos, and Richard "Fazer" Rawson - has recently seen success as a solo artist and recorded with Queen guitarist Brian May.

The case was adjourned for prosecutor Brian Stork to open the trial tomorrow morning.

PA