Tulisa's fury as CPS announces she WILL be charged with supplying cocaine to undercover journalist
- Former X Factor judge was involved in newspaper sting operation
- She was arrested on June 4 and will now be charged, the CPS announced
- Her lawyer today said she will plead not guilty to the charges
- He said the 'entire case' has been manufactured by a newspaper
- Claims singer joins celebrities used as 'fodder by greedy newspapers'
- The Sun defended the article as 'entirely justified in the public interest'
- N-Dubz star will appear in front of magistrates on December 19
By HUGO GYE and BECKY EVANS
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Tulisa Contostavlos will be charged with helping to supply Class A drugs to an undercover journalist, it was announced today.
The charges result from a newspaper sting operation earlier this year, during which the singer and former X Factor judge allegedly helped the reporter buy cocaine.
Contostavlos, who first found fame as a member of hip-hop group N-Dubz, will appear in court in London next Thursday.
Charged: Tulisa Contostavlos, pictured in a recent social media picture, is accused of supplying Class A drugs
Police were pictured leaving Tulisa's home in Hertfordshire with two large bags
A police officer enters Tulisa Contostavlos's home today holding a search book
The Crown Prosecution Service today said a 'prosecution is in the public interest'. Pictured: Police remove items from the singer's home
Contostavlos's lawyer today said the singer will plead not guilty to the charge and claimed she joined a line of celebrities who had been used as 'fodder by greedy newspapers'.
However, The Sun has defended the article as 'in the public interest'.
Contostavlos's lawyer Ben Rose said: 'As has been widely reported this entire case has been manufactured by the Sun on Sunday and Mahzer Mahmood, sometimes known as the fake sheikh.
'They spent a large amount of their readers’ money in flying Tulisa and a number of her friends first class to Las Vegas. There Mahmood posed as a film producer offering her a £3million film contract.
'This case is not simply about drug supply. It is about the limits which we set on the conduct of journalists. The media have rightly been criticised in recent years for gross invasion into the private life of others.
'Tulisa is the latest in a long line of people who have been treated as fodder by greedy newspapers.
'This was a deliberate attempt to target a young woman who is all the more vulnerable because of her celebrity status.
'The law clearly forbids such conduct on the part of police. It is ironic that the police should rely on it when it is the work of a journalist.
'In due course Tulisa will give a full answer to these allegations in court.'
Tulisa Contostavlos and her friend Mike GLC. who has also been charged with supplying class A drugs
A lawyer representing Contostavlos (pictured last month) said the entire case has been manufactured by the Sun on Sunday and she is the latest celebrity to be used as 'fodder by greedy newspapers'
A Sun spokeswoman said tonight: 'The Sun on Sunday's investigation into Tulisa Contostavlos was entirely justified in the public interest.
'It was undertaken by Mazher Mahmood, our award-winning journalist responsible for the football match-fixing investigation that has dominated the news recently.
'Ms Contostavlos is a self-described role model for young people and therefore has certain responsibilities. Throughout our investigation, our team followed the Press Complaints Commission Code and then handed over our dossier of evidence to the police.
'Following the police investigation, prosecutors have decided that there is a clear case to answer. It is right that this matter should go to court and be decided by a jury.
'Allegations about the conduct of this newspaper made by Ms Contostavlos' lawyers are entirely without foundation.'
This evening Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for London, confirmed that Contostavlos is to be charged.
Contostavlos, pictured in a recent social media picture, will deny the charge
In a statement she said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge Tulisa Contostavlos, 25, with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
'This charge relates to an investigation by The Sun newspaper between early March 2013 and 23 May 2013 which resulted in the supply of Class A drugs to an investigative journalist.
'This decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.
'This defendant is now the subject of criminal proceedings and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'
Contostavlos was initially arrested in connection with the incident on June 4, along with 35-year-old musician Mike GLC.
Star: Tulisa pictured with her fellow X Factor judges Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh
The rapper, real name Michael Coombs, 35, has been charged with supply of class A drugs and is due to appear alongside Contostavlos at Westminster Magistrates' Court on December 19.
Contostavlos was dropped as a judge on X Factor days before her arrest, with Sharon Osbourne returning to the ITV talent show in her place.
After rising to prominence as a member of N-Dubz, the 25-year-old went solo and hit number one with her debut single Young, released in April last year.
Following music mogul Simon Cowell's departure from The X Factor, she worked as a judge on the show's eighth and ninth series, in 2011 and 2012.
She was involved in a controversy last year when her ex-boyfriend apparently leaked a video of the pair having sex onto the internet.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2520856/Tulisa-charged-supplying-Class-A-drugs-undercover-journalist.html#ixzz2n1ErxSbl
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