View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Tulisa to appear in court this morning following The Sun’s ‘fake sheikh’ drugs sting

By Darren Boyle

Former X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos will appear in court this morning on drugs charges following a sting by the Sun newspaper.

The 25-year old singer is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court for “being concerned in” the supply of cocaine.

CPS London chief Crown prosecutor Baljit Ubhey said last week: "This charge relates to an investigation by the Sun newspaper between early March 2013 and May 23 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."

Contostavlos was initially arrested in connection with the incident with 35-year-old musician Mike GLC – real name Michael Coombs – on 4 June.

She was officially dropped as a judge on X Factor days before her arrest, with Sharon Osbourne returning to the show in her place.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the singer had been charged alongside Coombs, 35, of Enfield, who is also due to appear today.

Contostavlos's lawyer Ben Rose said last week that his client would be denying the charge and claimed she joined a line of celebrities who had been used as "fodder by greedy newspapers".

In a statement he said: "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 Sun on Sunday 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 £3 million 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 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 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."

A Sun spokeswoman defended the article, adding: "The Sun on Sunday's investigation into Tulisa Contostavlos was entirely justified in the public interest.

"Ms Contostavlos is a self-described role model for young people and therefore has certain responsibilities.

"Throughout our investigation, our team followed the Press Complaints Commission Code and then handed over our dossier of evidence to the police.

"Following the police investigation, prosecutors have decided that there is a clear case to answer.

"It is right that this matter should go to court and be decided by a jury.

"Allegations about the conduct of this newspaper made by Ms Contostavlos' lawyers are entirely without foundation."

 

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network