Dizzee Rascal guilty: Shamed rapper convicted of assaulting mother of his children in Streatham

Award-winning rapper Dizzee Rascal's career faces ruin after he was convicted of assaulting the mother of his children in a “chaotic” row at her south London home.

The 37-year-old Mercury Prize winner beat up his former fiancée Cassandra Jones on June 8 last year at her mum's house in Streatham, Lambeth.

Rascal had denied assaulting Ms Jones - claiming he was the one who got injured - however he was found guilty following a one-day trial.

Ms Jones had previously struggled to give evidence from behind a screen, and was hyperventilating when she described how Rascal was a “ticking time bomb”.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard how the performer who hails from Bow, real name Dylan Mills, returned to the house, following a day out with his daughter, in an angry mood and barged his way into the property.

The Bonkers hitmaker then banged his head into her fridge three times and pushed Ms Jones to the floor.

At the start of his trial, Helena Duong, prosecuting, said the star attacked his former fiancée and pushed her to the floor during the “chaotic” row.

The court heard he had been “confrontational” when he arrived to pick his daughter up.

The row is said to have taken place “in the context of a domestic dispute” about child contact.

Ms Jones called Rascal when he was late coming back and then he began “swearing” at her.

The chart-topping artist then “barged” his way back into the house with their son in his arms before he started “shouting and screaming” in front of the victim’s mum as they tried to grab the child off the star.

Rascal began filming Ms Jones and raised his voice while he still had his son in his arms.

The rapper flew into a rage and banged his head against a fridge three times while the youngster was still in his arms.

Ms Jones desperately tried to call police, but he is said to have taken her phone off her.

He then pushed his forehead against hers and pushed her around the room as she screamed “get off me”.

The victim is said to have been pushed to the ground and landed on her elbows.

The court heard noise from the “fairly chaotic” scene was loud enough to alert a neighbour who found the star getting “100% angrier”.

Ms Jones wept as she described the star as a “ticking time bomb” when she gave her evidence last month.

She was hyperventilating and struggled to get words out as she spoke from behind a screen.

She said she had to be calm when her ex-fiancée arrived on the doorstep as she knew he was in a bad mood and did not want to make him angry.

However, he soon became “very angry” and “out of control” during the assault.

He is said to have shouted “why did you leave me?”, to which she says she replied “because of domestic abuse”.

His lawyer Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC tried to claim Ms Jones’ evidence was inconsistent.

“The defendant made ample financial provision for his children and provided a home for them,” Ms Bennett-Jenkins said.

“She was not happy with what was provided.

“The defendant did not have to give evidence but he gladly did so. He gave a consistent and wholly credible account of what took place on that day.”

However district judge Polly Glendhill said Rascal’s evidence was not credible while that of his victim, her mum and a neighbour were described as credible.

She said: “In my view, Ms Jones was a credible witness. The specific vocabulary used may have differed on each occasion.

“She was in a stressful situation. She remained adamant she was pushed around in the room and his actions led him to fall to the floor.

“Her evidence did not overplay her hand. She said this was a shocking event but did not overplay the contact that took place.”

And on Rascal she told the court: “I did not find him to be a credible witness.

“He was evasive, belligerent and made no concessions.

“He denied being angry in the car, but the texts were aggressive, dismissive and bullying.”

The prosecutor said Rascal is likely to face a community order for the assault, which she described as a lesser culpability but greater harm offence.

Rascal, of Sevenoaks in Kent, is due to be sentenced on April 8 at Croydon Magistrates Court.

The star 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.