Tweedy guilty of attacking black nightclub attendant

GIRLS ALOUD star Cheryl Tweedy insisted she was not a racist last night after she was found guilty of attacking a black nightclub attendant.

The 20-year-old said she was “stunned and disappointed” after a jury at Kingston Crown Court found her guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but the singer said she was pleased that she had been cleared of a charge of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge Richard Haworth sentenced Tweedy to 120 hours community service and ordered her to pay £500 compensation to victim Sophie Amogbokpa and £3,000 prosecution costs.

The judge said it was an “unpleasant piece of drunken violence” and said Tweedy, of Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, had shown “no remorse whatsoever”.

After sentencing, the pop star stood outside court with her mother and tour manager, while her solicitor Paul Harris read a statement on her behalf.

In it she said she was “thankful that the jury had accepted that this incident has nothing to do with race.”

The dark-haired star added: “I am not a racist and anyone who knows me knows I would not say anything racist.”

Tweedy punched part-time law student Ms Amogbokpa, aged 39, in a row over a handful of lollipops in the lavatory of The Drink Nightclub in Guildford, Surrey, on January 11.

Ms Amogbokpa was left with a black eye and bruising.

Judge Haworth told Tweedy: “This was an unpleasant piece of drunken violence which caused Sophie Amogbokpa pain and suffering. Her eye was painful for three or four weeks, there was bruising for three months and for a while she had blurred vision.

“You showed no remorse whatsoever.”

He gave out the community service sentence after receiving a probation report saying she was unlikely to reoffend and said he had taken into account her age and previous good character.

Tweedy was also ordered to pay her victim £500 compensation and pay £3,000 prosecution costs.

The jury of seven men and five women convicted Tweedy of assault occasioning actual bodily harm by a majority of 11 to one.

Tweedy let out a gasp and covered her face with her hands when the jury foreman announced the verdict.