Amy Winehouse pleads guilty to panto assault

BY JESSICA CUNNIFFE, ANDY HANDLEY AND LAURA HANNAM

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse has pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of staff at the pantomime.

The singer was given a conditional discharge of two years and ordered to pay £185 in compensation and costs.

She appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court this morning in a white shirt, grey mini skirt and flat shoes.

She spoke only to confirm her name and address and to plead guilty to the charges of common assault and a public order offence.

Winehouse, who was charged under the name Amy Civil, adjusted her trademark beehive as the court heard what happened on December 19, when she went to see Milton Keynes Theatre's production of Cinderella.



She arrived at the panto at 7pm to see her friend after drinking five vodka and cokes.

"She said in the interview that she felt quite sober," said Julian Vickery, prosecuting.

She was sitting in the stalls several rows from the front of the audience with close friends and minders.

"Miss Civil accepts raising her voice, she says in the spirit of the pantomime," the court heard.

One person in the audience told her to be quiet and she was invited to sit in the box during the interval.

She said she wanted to go to the toilet and she was shown by the front of house manager, Richard Pound where it was.

She asked for a drink and Mr Pound asked her what she wanted. She asked for a double vodka and coke, but Mr Pound suggested she drink water instead.

"Miss Civil said she felt hurt, embarrassed and patronised by the reply. She went into the toilet and accepts she was heard uttering the words f****** c***."

When she came out of the toilet she apologised to Mr Pound, but he told her she had too much to drink and had to leave.

She then grabbed his hair and pulled it, saying to him 'who the f*** do you think you are?'

As she left the building she was heard swearing.

Paul Morris, defending, said: "It's right to say that this has made her reflect on her drinking habits. She has made huge changes to her lifestyle."

He added: "She did apologise profusely in interview."

District Judge Peter Crabtree said: "On the positive side however this is a very limited public order offence, the language used and assault was not pre-meditated it was a reaction - an overreaction - causing no injury. You've clearly taken effort to address your alcohol problems and other problems and I you have to get credit for that."

He gave her a conditional discharge for two years meaning if she commits another offence in that time she will be punished for both.

She was ordered to pay £85 in costs and £100 in compensation to Mr Pound.