'Self-Important Tweedy not above the Law' jury told

Cheryl Tweedy had experienced a few weeks of "meteoric success" and was "full of her own self-importance" on the night she allegedly punched Sophie Amogbokpa, the court heard.

The "intoxicated" 20-year-old pop star punched the toilet attendant and hurled a "torrent" of insults at her, including racist remarks, because she asked for payment for a handful of lollipops, Kingston Crown Court was told.

In her closing speech to the jury, prosecuting counsel Patricia Lees said famous people sometimes behaved in a way which was "wholly inappropriate to their status".

But nobody was above the law, said Miss Lees. Tweedy had lied about events at The Drink nightclub in Guildford, Surrey, because there was "a lot of things riding on it for her", she claimed. "Even important or famous people can behave very badly indeed and they have been known to do things which are wholly inappropriate to their status, particularly if they are seen as upstanding members of the community, politicians or role models, and sometimes it is a question of having too much too young.

"You just have to think about allegations of inebriated rock stars behaving as though nobody else is important and they can do what they like. These people are not above the law, nobody is."

She continued: "What we do say is that on this occasion, intoxicated and full, I am afraid, of her own self-importance -'I know the management', almost 'don't you know who I am?' - she (Tweedy) treated another woman extremely badly.

"She punched her, without reason to do so, and hurled a torrent of insults, including remarks about Mrs Amogbokpa's skin colour." Tweedy, of Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, is alleged to have punched Mrs Amogbokpa in the face leaving her with a black eye after a row on January 11 this year.

She denies racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.