Tulisa Contostavlos drugs court latest: singer pleads not guilty to supply of Class As
The singer, who appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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Your support makes all the difference.Tulisa Contostavlos has denied being concerned with the supply of Class A drugs.
The singer, who appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Musician Michael Coombs, 35, who also uses the name Mike GLC, pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
Senior District Judge Howard Riddle granted both unconditional bail.
The case will be sent to Southwark Crown Court, where they will appear on 9 January 2014.
The former X Factor judge, 25, was remanded in custody on 4 June, along with musican Mike GLC, 35, after they went to a police station in central London by appointment. She was officially charged on Monday 9 December.
Tulisa’s lawyer, Ben Rose of Hickman and Rose, released the following statement regarding his client:
“Tulisa has been charged with a serious criminal offence to which she will plead not guilty.
“As has been widely reported, this entire case has been manufactured by the Sunday Sun and Mazher Mahmood, sometimes known as the fake sheikh. They spent a large amount of their readers’ money in flying Tulisa and a number of her friends first class to Las Vegas. There, Mahmood posed as a film producer offering her a £3million film contract.
“This case is not simply about drug supply. It is about the limits which we set on the conduct of journalists. The media have rightly been criticised in recent years for the gross invasion into the private life of others. Tulisa is the latest in a long line of people who have been treated as fodder by greedy newspapers. This was a deliberate attempt to target a young woman who is all the more vulnerable because of her celebrity status.
“The law clearly forbids such conduct on the part of the police. It is ironic that the police should rely on it when it is the work of a journalist.
“In due course Tulisa will give a full answer to these allegations in court.”
Baljit Ubhey, CPS London Chief Crown Prosecutor, confirmed earlier today: “The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge Tulisa Contostavlos, 25, with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.”
“This charge relates to an investigation by The Sun newspaper between early March 2013 and 23 May 2013 which resulted in the supply of Class A drugs to an investigative journalist.
“This decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
“We have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.
“Ms Contostavlos will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on 19 December 2013.”
The Sun On Sunday reported that half an ounce of cocaine changed hands as a result of the deal conducted at London's Dorchester Hotel earlier this year.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed at the time: “We have received information concerning the alleged supply of illegal drugs at a central London location.
”We are considering the information received.“
The singer - who found fame with N-Dubz - was officially dropped as a judge on The X Factor following the arrest, with Sharon Osbourne returning to the show in her place.
The star - whose debut solo album made it to only number 35 in the charts - said that she did not take the drug herself.
Contostavlos last year won an apology from a former boyfriend who leaked footage on to the internet of the two of them performing a sex act.
Video: Tulisa arrives at Westminster Magistrates court