Tulisa Contostavlos cleared in 'cocaine sting' trial
British pop star Tulisa Contostavlos was today cleared of charges related to an alleged conspiracy to supply concaine to an undercover reporter from the Sun.
Judge Alistair McCreath told the jury that he had "strong grounds to believe" that the tabloid journalist known as the 'Fake Sheikh', Mazher Mahmood, "lied" at a hearing before the trial started.
Contostavlos, 26, was accused of helping to supply the reporter half an ounce of cocaine worth £800 in order to secure a role in a blockbuster movie. She was due to testify that she had encouraged to act as a 'bad girl' by Mr Mahmood so she could be in character for the proposed film role.
At a pre-trial hearing, which could not be reported for legal reasons, Mahmood told the court that he had not discussed a witness statement with his driver Alan Smith. However under cross-examination on Thursday, Mahmood confirmed he had spoken to Smith about his statement which was then changed to remove references to anti-drug comments made by the singer.
Addressing the jury at Southwark crown court, Judge McCreath said: "Where there has been some aspect of the investigation or prosecution of a crime which is tainted in some way by serious misconduct to the point that the integrity of the court would be compromised by allowing the trial to go ahead, then the court has no alternative but to say 'this case must go no further'."
The Drum understands that Mahmood's evidence has been reported to the Crown Prosecution Service which will be considering possible perjury charges against the Sun reporter.