Former X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos has today been convicted of assaulting a celebrity blogger at a music festival.
The N-Dubz star hit Savvas Morgan during an altercation at the V Festival in Essex.
She was found guilty by a judge at Stratford Magistrates’ Court in east London today.
Contostavlos was ordered to pay a total of £3,020.
This consisted of a £2,700 contribution towards the cost of the prosecution, a £200 fine, £100 compensation to Mr Morgan and a £20 victim surcharge.
Her assistant, Gareth Varey, was cleared of using threatening behaviour during the incident in August last year.
Contostavlos, who wore a blue suit, white shirt and nude stilettos, shook her head and smiled in disbelief as today’s guilty verdict was read out.
She appeared to mutter “this is bulls***” as she walked out of the courtroom.
District Judge Angus Hamilton said: “I am quite sure to the requisite standard of proof, based on my analysis of the evidence that I have heard, that Ms Contostavlos did strike Mr Morgan in the face during an argument and that that blow caused minor bruising and swelling.“
She later vowed to launch an appeal against the conviction.
In a defiant statement afterthe guilty verdict, she said: “This has been a rollercoaster week for me. I never wanted any of this.
“I did not assault Vas J Morgan and I am outraged at this decision. I will be appealing it.
“There are a number of high-profile witnesses who were there and know what happened. I urge them to come forward and tell the truth at the appeal.
“I am determined to clear my name as I have already done once this week.
“I repeat – I did not assault Vas J Morgan. I am innocent.”
Earlier this week, a drugs trial against Contostavlos collapsed at Southwark Crown Court after the judge said there were “strong grounds” to believe that undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood – known as the Fake Sheikh – had lied in the witness box.