Rapper asks to calm it as thug goes wild
CONCERT GOERS ATTACKED AT 50 CENTS GIG
RAPPER 50 Cent was forced to “ask for calm” after a teenage thug attacked two people during one of his sell-out concerts in Newcastle. The In Da Club singer was performing at the Metro Radio Arena last November when Alexander McHugh flew into a rage. A court heard that the 19-year-old wrongly believed people were shoving his girlfriend and headbutted one fellow concert-goer, before punching and biting another. Having seen the fracas, Fiddy, real name Curtis James Jackson III, appealed for calm as he performed on stage. But, prosecutors claim, McHugh ignored the rapper’s pleas and continued to attack one of his victims. He was only stopped when security was alerted and he was arrested.
North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard the first victim suffered a cut to his forehead and needed eight stitches, while the 16-year-old suffered a broken knuckle, bruising and swelling and “evidence of a bite mark” to his right cheek.
McHugh, of Peasemore Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, was charged with wounding without intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and pleaded guilty to both offences.
Prosecutor Lee Poppett said two separate groups of friends had attended the concert on November 7 last year – the first included student Mohammed Sufi, while the second the 16-year-old boy.
Mr Poppett said: “Inside the arena, Mr Sufi noticed an older-looking female being concerned with a younger male, the defendant.
“Mr Sufi was so concerned by the way the defendant was acting, he approached him. He saw the defendant push the older lady. Mr Sufi asked, ‘What are you doing, mate?’ and the defendant responded by putting his head towards him and headbutting Mr Sufi.
“Mr Sufi realised very quickly he was bleeding from a cut on his forehead but, not wanting to distract from the concert, went back to his friends.”
Around 30 minutes later, McHugh launched his second unprovoked attack, this time on the teenage boy.
He grabbed the teenager by the throat before punching his face and tackling him to the ground.
Shocked onlookers, including Mr Sufi, recorded the incident, while others alerted security.
Mark Stiles, mitigating, said: “He’s disgusted with himself. He’s embarrassed and feels genuine guilt for the way he acted.”
Magistrates sent McHugh to Newcastle Crown Court.
He was released on bail to next appear there on May 4.