This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50890079
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Caroline Flack: Love Island host denies assaulting boyfriend | Caroline Flack: Love Island host denies assaulting boyfriend |
(32 minutes later) | |
Former Love Island presenter Caroline Flack has pleaded not guilty to assaulting her boyfriend with a lamp. | Former Love Island presenter Caroline Flack has pleaded not guilty to assaulting her boyfriend with a lamp. |
Police found her partner Lewis Burton covered in blood after being called to reports of a man being assaulted at the 40-year-old's home in north London on 12 December, a court heard. | Police found her partner Lewis Burton covered in blood after being called to reports of a man being assaulted at the 40-year-old's home in north London on 12 December, a court heard. |
However, Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court was told tennis player Mr Burton did not support the prosecution. | However, Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court was told tennis player Mr Burton did not support the prosecution. |
Ms Flack will stand trial at the same court on 4 March. | Ms Flack will stand trial at the same court on 4 March. |
The court heard the alleged attack occurred after Ms Flack found texts on her boyfriend's phone while he was asleep, leading her to believe he was cheating. | The court heard the alleged attack occurred after Ms Flack found texts on her boyfriend's phone while he was asleep, leading her to believe he was cheating. |
"He said he had been asleep and was hit over the head by Caroline with a lamp, causing a visible cut to his head," prosecutor Katie Weiss said. | "He said he had been asleep and was hit over the head by Caroline with a lamp, causing a visible cut to his head," prosecutor Katie Weiss said. |
"She had also smashed a glass and she had sustained an injury." | "She had also smashed a glass and she had sustained an injury." |
The court heard how Mr Burton made a call to 999 in which he was "almost begging the operator to send help". | The court heard how Mr Burton made a call to 999 in which he was "almost begging the operator to send help". |
When a police officer arrived at the Islington flat, both Ms Flack and Mr Burton were covered in blood and the officer "likened the scene to a horror movie", Ms Weiss said. | When a police officer arrived at the Islington flat, both Ms Flack and Mr Burton were covered in blood and the officer "likened the scene to a horror movie", Ms Weiss said. |
Ms Weiss told the court Ms Flack was disruptive while in police custody, saying she flipped over a table and had to be "restrained on the ground". | Ms Weiss told the court Ms Flack was disruptive while in police custody, saying she flipped over a table and had to be "restrained on the ground". |
Her solicitor Paul Morris told the court Mr Burton had "never supported" the prosecution's case, adding: "He is not the victim, as he would say, he was a witness." | Her solicitor Paul Morris told the court Mr Burton had "never supported" the prosecution's case, adding: "He is not the victim, as he would say, he was a witness." |
However, Ms Weiss replied: "Mr Burton is a victim, he received significant injury to his head." | However, Ms Weiss replied: "Mr Burton is a victim, he received significant injury to his head." |
Ms Flack was released on bail on the condition she does not contact Mr Burton directly or indirectly or attends his address. | Ms Flack was released on bail on the condition she does not contact Mr Burton directly or indirectly or attends his address. |
Mr Morris had made an application to have these bail conditions lifted, arguing that they "remain a couple" and wanted to spend Christmas together. | Mr Morris had made an application to have these bail conditions lifted, arguing that they "remain a couple" and wanted to spend Christmas together. |
At the scene | At the scene |
Helena Wilkinson, BBC News correspondent | Helena Wilkinson, BBC News correspondent |
Caroline Flack struggled to get through a scrum of photographers as she walked into the court building. Once in, she burst into tears. | Caroline Flack struggled to get through a scrum of photographers as she walked into the court building. Once in, she burst into tears. |
In the courtroom itself she was accompanied by a security officer who walked her to the dock. | In the courtroom itself she was accompanied by a security officer who walked her to the dock. |
She passed her boyfriend, the man she's accused of assaulting, who was sitting in the packed public gallery. | |
They're still a couple, the court heard, and he insists he isn't a victim. | They're still a couple, the court heard, and he insists he isn't a victim. |
When asked how she would plead she quietly said "not guilty". | When asked how she would plead she quietly said "not guilty". |
As the case was laid out against her there were moments when she cried. | As the case was laid out against her there were moments when she cried. |
Towards the end, when she was told her bail conditions would remain and that she couldn't contact her boyfriend, she burst into tears again and turned to look at him. | Towards the end, when she was told her bail conditions would remain and that she couldn't contact her boyfriend, she burst into tears again and turned to look at him. |
He was looking down with his head in his hands. | He was looking down with his head in his hands. |
Ms Flack began presenting Love Island in summer 2015, having fronted the 12th series of The X Factor alongside Olly Murs, and winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2014. | Ms Flack began presenting Love Island in summer 2015, having fronted the 12th series of The X Factor alongside Olly Murs, and winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2014. |
She stood down from the show after she was charged last week, saying it was the "best thing I can do". | She stood down from the show after she was charged last week, saying it was the "best thing I can do". |
Irish TV presenter Laura Whitmore will take over hosting duties on Love Island and its companion show Aftersun when filming starts in South Africa in January. | Irish TV presenter Laura Whitmore will take over hosting duties on Love Island and its companion show Aftersun when filming starts in South Africa in January. |
Ms Flack's trial is expected to last one-and-a-half days. | Ms Flack's trial is expected to last one-and-a-half days. |