The rapper must wear an electronic tag for the next 24 weeks
Dizzee Rascal was told that he had shown “no remorse” as he was spared jail on Friday for assaulting his ex-fiancée in a row over child custody and money.
The Brit Award and Mercury prize winner was found guilty of assaulting his former partner and the mother of his two children, Cassandra Jones, at her mum’s house in Streatham, south London, following a trial last month.
The 37-year-old, real name Dylan Mills, was banned from contacting Jones for a year and told to complete a 24-week community order with a requirement that he remain at home on an electronic tag curfew between 8pm and 6am every day for 24 weeks.
The rapper, who lives in Sevenoaks, Kent, spoke only to confirm his name and address during the hearing at Croydon Magistrates Court.
He was also ordered to pay £2,190 prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
During the chaotic row, the grime artist flew into a rage, banged Jones’ head into her fridge three times, and pushed her to the floor, leaving her with bruising and grazing on her left arm from the confrontation.
He held the pair’s son in his arms during the row while she held their daughter.
When he arrived to be sentenced on Friday, Mills got into a row with a journalist over what happened at the trial shouting “you weren’t there”.
Dizzee Rascal appeared in court to be sentenced for assaulting his ex-fiancee during a 'chaotic' row over money and contact with their children.
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He sat stone-faced in the dock wearing a black leather jacket, black jeans, and a white t-shirt.
District Judge Polly Gledhill told the star: “You have shown no remorse for this matter, rather you continue to place the blame on your victim.
“There may well have been only a minor physical effect on the victim but she suffered more than minor psychological harm and distress.
“She was given anti-anxiety and depression medication before this event but she has been suffering from panic attacks.
“You are of good character but I must recognise one of the factors that can allow domestic abuse is the continued ability of the perpetrator to have a public and a private face.”
Common assault carries a maximum sentence of six months behind bars, but the toughest penalty the rapper could reasonably expect is a “high-level” community order- which is what he was given.
Mills shot to fame in 2003 when his debut album Boy in da Corner was widely praised by critics.
He has since become one of Britain’s most successful musicians and has topped the charts with catchy singles Dance Wiv Me and Bonkers.
Ten years ago he performed at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics and he was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to music.
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