Ms Dynamite faces prison for attack on policewoman

A glittering future beckoned when Ms Dynamite won the Mercury Music Prize in 2002. Beautiful, talented and outspoken, she campaigned against gun crime, domestic violence, poverty and the Iraq war and became a role model for young women everywhere.

But yesterday, the singer faced a grim future: a judge warned her she could be sentenced to prison after she admitted slapping a woman police constable in the face.

Dressed in a tailored black leather jacket and blue jeans, Ms Dynamite, whose real name is Niomi McLean-Daley, appeared at Bow Street magistrates' court in central London.

The constable was assaulted early on 6 January at a police station in the West End of London. Ms McLean-Daley had been taken there after being arrested following a disturbance outside the Paragon Lounge, a nightclub in Mayfair. The 24-year-old singer, who had been partying with friends, claimed she and her sister had been racially abused inside the club.

She admitted one charge under the Police Act of "assaulting Caryn Marles, a constable, in the execution of her duty" and another under the Public Order Act of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

District Judge Caroline Tubbs said: "You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter of assault on a police officer performing her duty and that does include a custodial sentence."

The singer's brother, Kingsley Daley, 22, and another woman, Carlene Godwin, 24, also appeared in the dock, and both pleaded not guilty to a public order offence.

Audrey Hawkes, for the prosecution, said police were called to the Paragon Lounge at 5.25am. "They came across a large disturbance outside the club. Ms McLean-Daley was part of that disturbance. She was told to calm down on repeated occasions, but did not. Eventually, PC Marles allowed Mr Daley, her brother, to calm her down, but she continued to be abusive and was arrested."

Ms Hawkes said Mr Daley had tried to prevent police from arresting his sister. "He held on to both his sister's forearms, which meant the officer could not effect the arrest, but she was eventually arrested," Ms Hawkes said. "At the police station she was abusive again and hit the police officer once with an open palm on the side of the face."

Anthony Burton, representing the singer, said: "An open hand was used and there was one strike and there was no injury. This incident arose out of another incident which occurred within the club prior to Ms Daley's behaviour outside which led to the disorderly conduct charge. That evening, she and her younger sister, aged 18, had been the subject of racial abuse and, so far as my client is concerned ... her younger sister was assaulted." The singer sat quietly through the hearing and rose to her feet to enter guilty pleas. She also told the court that her date of birth had been given incorrectly. She was born on 26 April, 1981, she said.

Ms Dynamite achieved fame four years ago with her debut album, A Little Deeper. After a period out of the limelight when she took time off to have a child - her son is now two - she performed at last summer's Live8 concert in Hyde Park, London.

But her planned comeback was not as successful as she had hoped. "Judgement Day", the single from her second album of the same name released in October 2005, reached only No 25 in the chart.

Her case has been adjourned until 19 January. The case against Mr Dale and Ms Godwin was adjourned until 27 January.