Lady Leshuur: Rapper denies biting and punching her former partner during dispute

Rapper Lady Leshurr denied biting and punching her former partner during a late night domestic dispute, a court has heard.

The Birmingham-born artist, real name Melesha O’Garro, is accused of attacking her ex-partner Sidnee Hussein and another woman called Chante Boyea during an argument in Leyton, east London, in the early hours of Saturday October 22.

The 34-year-old, who has appeared on ITV panel show Loose Women and participated in Dancing on Ice, said she had been out at a club in Hackney Wick before she went to Leyton at around 5am.

Her companion, Sherelle Smith, 28, is also accused of assaulting Ms Hussein by punching and kicking her in the head.

The rapper pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, while Smith pleaded not guilty to one charge.

Ugochi Obiechina, prosecuting, told Thames Magistrates Court that the incident began as Ms Boyea was driving to work in the early hours when she saw two women flagging her car down as if they needed help.

The prosecutor said: “The two complainants have been in a relationship for approximately a year.

“Prior to this the first complainant and the defendant Ms O’Garro were in a relationship for approximately six years.

“It was at around 5am, the complainant, Ms Boyea, has left her home to go to work. She was with her working dog which was locked in a cage in the rear of the vehicle.

“Ms O’Garro got into the vehicle and started to shout at the complainant. The complainant switched off her engine and left the vehicle as did the defendant.

“An argument developed on the street, the complainant tried to put her hand out to create distance and Ms O’Garro bit her left hand.”

The prosecutor added that Ms Boyea called Ms Hussein, who came from a house 15 metres away and pushed the rapper off Ms Boyea when Smith got involved.

She added: “She dragged Ms Hussein by her hair down to the floor. Smith got up and kicked Ms Hussein in the head. During this, Ms O’Garro has bitten Ms Hussein in her hand. Both defendants had punched her in the face.”

The rapper and Smith, both of Birmingham, West Midlands, denied assault causing actual bodily harm.

The two women were granted bail ahead of a pre-trial hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on November 21.

Bail conditions were imposed meaning they cannot contact either complainant directly or indirectly and must not enter the London borough of Waltham Forest.