Flack ‘hit boyfriend over head with a lamp’
Love Island host is banned from contact with her partner over Christmas as she denies assault charge
CAROLINE FLACK will not be allowed to see her boyfriend over Christmas after she allegedly “whacked” him on the head with a lamp, leaving him looking like something from a “horror movie”.
The Love Island host and Strictly Come Dancing champion of 2014 is accused of attacking Lewis Burton, 27, after seeing texts on his phone that led her to believe he was cheating on her.
The alleged attack prompted Mr Burton, a former tennis player and model, to dial 999 at 5.25am, telling the operator: “She tried to kill me, mate.”
Dressed in black, Flack was mobbed by photographers as she entered Highbury Corner magistrates’ court yesterday. Flack, 40, who has stepped down from hosting ITV2’S next series of the reality dating show, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Burton at her £1million flat in Islington, north London.
Before the single charge was read out in court, Paul Morris, her lawyer, interrupted proceedings to tell the District Judge Julia Newton that Mr Burton did not support the prosecution. “He is not a victim, he is a witness,” he said, adding that Mr Burton had “never supported the prosecution”.
But the charge was put to Flack a second time and she said: “Not guilty.”
Katie Weiss, prosecuting, told the court: “He is a victim – he sustained a significant injury to his head.”
There were gasps in court when Judge Newton told Flack she would be subject to conditional bail – meaning she would not be allowed any contact with her boyfriend until March 4, when she returns to stand trial.
Flack was seen crying as the bail conditions were read out and tried to make eye contact with Mr Burton as he left. Ms Weiss had told the court that police arriving at the flat on Dec 12 found “both covered in blood – in fact, one of the officers likened the scene to a horror movie”.
She said Mr Burton told officers he had been hit on the head with a lamp. A 999 call recorded Mr Burton “asking repeatedly for help” and “almost begging the operator to send help”, said Ms Weiss. He said Flack was “going mad, breaking stuff ” and could be heard saying
Mr Burton had “ruined my life”. After being cautioned, Flack said “she would kill herself ”, calling Mr Burton an “a-------” and “vile”.
Before the hearing yesterday Flack posted on Instagram: “This is the worst time of my life. I don’t know where to go to. Who to trust. Or who I even am.”
After her court appearance, she posted: “Thankfully I know a lot of you will not believe all that you have heard… it’s going to be a relief when I am able to give my side of the story.”
Meanwhile, Mr Burton posted on Instagram: “It’s heartbreaking I can’t see my girlfriend over Christmas.”