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Dizzee Rascal guilty of assaulting ex-fiancee and smashes camera after verdict

Grime artist convicted of assaulting Cassandra Jones at a home in south London

Rory Sullivan
Tuesday 08 March 2022 13:31 GMT
Dizzee Rascal throws photographer’s camera across street after guilty verdict in assault case

Dizzee Rascal has been found guilty of assaulting his ex-fiancee during a “chaotic” row about child contact.

The grime star, 37, whose real name is Dylan Mills, was convicted of assaulting his former partner Cassandra Jones at a property in Streatham, south London, on 8 June last year.

Following the verdict on Monday afternoon, Mills took a camera from a PA Media photographer after leaving Wimbledon Magistrates Court and threw it into a road, smashing it.

The court earlier heard that the musician “barged” into Ms Jones’s residence in June last year, “put his forehead against hers” and then “pushed her to the ground”. Mills was carrying their son in his arms during the incident.

The pair, who have two children, separated in February 2021.

Announcing the guilty verdict, District Judge Polly Gledhill said: “I am satisfied so that I am sure that on 8 June that Mr Mills, on returning home with the child late, lost his temper in an argument over child contact and finances.”

Mills was “abusive and aggressive” and “assaulted her as outlined by the Crown”, she added.

After being alerted to the incident, the police arrived at the scene and arrested the singer. Although he said he was the “aggressor” at the time, he later denied the allegations and instead accused Ms Jones of hurting his arm.

Grime artist Dizzee Rascal, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills, arrives at Wimbledon Magistrates Court (PA Wire)

In proceedings last month, the prosecution described the dispute as a “fairly chaotic scene of moving around the house”, adding that it occurred in “the context of a domestic dispute” about child contact.

Ms Jones also told the court in tears how she feared that Mills, who she said was “out of control” during the incident, would drop their son.

“He was screaming for me and I said, ‘Please, just give me him,’” Ms Jones said.

Mills, who was made an MBE in 2020 for his contribution to the music industry, will be sentenced at Croydon Magistrates Court on 8 April.

Additional reporting by PA

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