LATEST: GIRLS ALOUD singer Cheryl Tweedy flew into a violent, racist rage against a nightclub lavatory attendant when she was asked to pay for some sweets, a court has heard.

Tweedy is facing charges of racially aggravated assault and actual bodily harm after an 11 January (03) incident at THE DRINK nightclub in Guildford, England, where she is accused of attacking part-time student and toilet attendant SOPHIE AMOGBOKPA, 39, after a night of heavy drinking with bandmate Nicola Roberts.

Amogbokpa told Surrey's KINGSTON CROWN COURT yesterday (09OCT03) that Tweedy hit her in the eye and called her "a ****ing black bitch" in a row over lollipops.

She told, "The slim one Nicola came out of the cubicle first. She used some of the things put out, like cosmetics - and took some blusher and a bit of make-up.

"When the fatter, shorter one Cheryl Tweedy came out, Nicola asked her to pay. But she said she wouldn't give me any money and she started picking things up herself. She took some lollies and some chewing gum and a bottle of perfume."

Amogbokpa says Tweedy then shoved a handful of the sweets in her handbag, telling her, "My father owns this place - I'm not giving you money."

She told the court, "Nicola was trying to restrain her and looked frightened at how abusive she was. PHIL (WHITE, club manager) came in and he is a very big bloke.

"But she was still coming at me. She got close to me and punched me in the left eye. I can't remember which hand she hit me with but she hit my glasses and my glasses fell down. I was taken off to the staff room. An ambulance was called to take me to hospital."

Tweedy, who shot to fame after winning reality TV show POPSTARS: THE RIVALS, has pleaded not guilty.

The case continues.

10/10/2003 13:36