Girls Aloud Singer Breaks Down In Court

LATEST: British pop singer Cheryl Tweedy broke down in tears yesterday (15OCT03) as she told a packed courthouse she was hit by a toilet attendant.

The 20-year-old is accused of attacking and racially abusing a night club lavatory attendant, 39-year-old SOPHIE AMOGBOKPA, during a night out with her Girls Aloud bandmate NICOLA ROBERTS - but claims she acted in self-defence.

It has been alleged Tweedy called the club employee a "f***ing black bitch", during a row over paying for lollipops on display in the bathroom, before hitting Amogbokpa in the face.

In the witness box, Tweedy said, "There's no way, no matter what state I am in, I would refer to anybody by their colour.

"I know in my heart, Sophie Amogbokpa knows in her heart and the Lord above knows the truth of what happened, and that's all that matters to me."

Describing the incident at Surrey, England's KINGSTON CROWN COURT, she said, "I came out of the toilets and Nicola said she wanted some lollipops.

"I walked over to the lollipops and said to the toilet attendant, 'I will just take five of these.'

"It became apparent there was a problem. I don't remember what she was saying - she was gesturing with her hands, ranting and raving.

"At first I thought it was the amount I was taking, but I intended to pay for them. I thought they would be about 20p each, like in any normal shop.

"I said, 'Hang on a minute and I will get the change out of my bag.' I rested my bag on the sink so I could get my change and I could see her leave her chair and approach me.

"The next thing I felt was a blow to my face, on my cheek. I remember grabbing the right side of my face in shock.

"I was stunned, I wasn't expecting it. I was scared and angry. I remember saying, 'What the f*** are you doing?' and I shouted at Nicola to get the management.

"I was swearing at the toilet attendant, but I didn't call her 'a f***ing black bitch'.

"We were both shouting and I was thinking, 'How the hell do I get out of this one?' She's a big woman and scary-looking, with broad shoulders. I was scared of what she was going to do.

"I whacked her back, but I don't know how hard I hit her."

She denies charges of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) and racially aggravated assault causing ABH, stemming from an 11 January (02) incident in a Guildford, Surrey, nightclub.

The trial continues.