Rapper Dizzee Rascal has today been slapped with an electronic tag and a restraining order after shoving his ex-fiancee to the floor during a row ‘chaotic’ row over money and contact with their children.
The grime artist, whose real name is Dylan Mills, was found guilty in March of attacking Cassandra Jones by pressing his head into hers and then pushing her to the ground.
But today he avoided a prison sentence for the offence. He was instead slapped with a 12-month restraining order – banning him from contacting his former partner – along with an electronic tag and a 24 week night time curfew.
The sentenced was handed down moments after the 37-year-old musician, who arrived at Croydon Magistrates’ Court dressed in a green bomber jacket, black jeans, trainers and a red hat, clashed with a TV journalist after being asked if he had any ‘regrets’ about his actions in June last year.
The rapper snapped back at the journalist, asking: ‘What do you mean?’ He then told the reporter: ‘You don’t know what you are talking about,’ before walking into the court.
The incident comes after Mills smashed a camera of a press photographer outside the same court in March, after his guilty verdict was handed down.
Shortly after today’s row, Mills appeared before a judge who branded him a ‘bully’ over his actions towards Ms Jones.
Sentencing Mills, who gave no response as his sentence was read out, District Judge Polly Gledhill said: ‘You showed no remorse for this matter.
‘Further, as demonstrated in your report given to the probation officer you continued to place the blame on Ms Jones, the victim in this case.’
The judge said she was ‘satisfied’ it was a ‘necessary and proportionate’ measure to impose a restraining order on MIlls, banning him from contacting his former partner.
Rapper Dizzee Rascal (pictured) was today spotted outside court ahead of his sentencing for assaulting his ex-fiancee during a ‘chaotic’ row over money and contact with their children
The grime artist (pictured) whose real name is Dylan Mills, was found guilty of attacking Cassandra Jones after a trial in March, with a judge concluding he had been ‘abusive and aggressive’
The grime artist clashed with a TV journalist after being asked if he had any ‘regrets’ about assaulting Cassandra Jones
The musician (pictured), who gave a thumbs up to the cameras as he walked into the building, was dressed in a green bomber jacket, black jeans, trainers and a red hat
During the trial, Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard how Mills exploded with anger after dropping their daughter off at Ms Jones’ home in Streatham, south London, on June 8 last year.
He had been late arriving at the after getting stuck in traffic and told Wimbledon Magistrates Court she was calling and texting him while he was driving, asking whether they would be back by 5pm in time for a chicken dinner.
Mills sent her foul replies, which included ‘shut up, don’t give me no lip’ and ‘shut your f****** mouth’.
When he arrived he ‘barged’ his way into the property, banged his head on a fridge three times while holding his son and began ‘screaming and shouting’ at Ms Jones and her mother Dawn Kirk.
The court heard he pressed his forehead against hers before pushing her to the ground during the incident.
The musician, behind chart-topping singles Bonkers and Dance Wiv Me, was ‘frustrated’ over custody arrangements and the pair had an argument when he dropped off their daughter at the property, the court heard.
Mills, who had two children with Ms Jones before they split up in February 2021, was said to have ‘barged’ into the home, banged his head on a fridge three times while holding his son and began ‘screaming and shouting’ at Ms Jones and her mother Dawn Kirk.
The court heard how Ms Jones began filming him but he took her phone from her and then took Ms Kirk’s phone.
The shouting became so loud that it alerted two neighbours and police were called, a judge was told.
Cassandra Jones, 33, told last night how stars’ ‘wealth and status’ should not silence women
The court heard how when they arrived, Mills told officers ‘I’m the aggressor’, but later gave a prepared statement in a police interview, denying the allegations and claimed he had been assaulted by Ms Jones.
In her victim impact statement Ms Jones said the incident had ‘rocked her to her core’ and she was on anxiety medication for her panic attack.
The judge noted Mills’ charity work and previous good character, but added that an aspect of domestic abuse is the abuser’s ability to maintain a ‘public and private face’.
Judge Gledhill said she believed he could have benefited from help in ‘controlling his anger’ and ‘addressing his thinking process’ after the disturbing footage she saw of the attack.
Following the guilty verdict, Mills smashed a photographer’s camera outside court after knocking it from their hands and hurling it across the road.
Police initially said they were investigating but no charges were brought after the photographer said he did not want to support a criminal investigation – instead opting to pursue a civil claim.
Referring to his encounter with a photographer after his conviction, she referred to the musician’s ‘reaction to me on being convicted, and the angry behaviour you demonstrated after the case was concluded.’
Mills also argued with another reporter outside court today after being quizzed on whether he ‘regretted’ the assault on his former partner.
He said: ‘What do you mean? What happened?. When the reporter responded: ‘The incident you are here for,’ he replied: ‘Why are you asking me if I regret what happened if you don’t know what happened?’
He later said: ‘What was the assault? What was the assault? You don’t know what you are talking about.’
When the reporter replies: ‘You pushed your head against hers,’ he said: ‘Is that what happened? Who told you that? Was you there?’
In court, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC, mitigating on behalf of Mills, told the judge that a pre-sentence report showed that there was a low risk of reoffending.
‘His concern and his only concern was that his children are thriving. He had focused on raising his children and all he wanted was to have a happy family.
In her victim impact statement Ms Jones said the incident had ‘rocked her to her core’ and she was on anxiety medication for her panic attack. Pictured: Mills leaving court today after his sentencing
The judge issued a one-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Ms Jones save for court proceedings and other official meetings or through his solicitors for childcare arrangements. She also ordered Mills to pay £2,190 in costs. Pictured: Mills leaving court following his sentencing
The court heard that the musician, who has no previous convictions, had undertaken ‘considerable charity work’ supporting young people in urban communities. Pictured: Mills leaving court after his sentencing
‘As you know, this incident was short-lived and by the time police had been called Mr Mills proceeded outside the address where he was calm and cooperative at all stages,’ said Ms Bennett-Jenkins.
‘The probation officer concluded that Mr Mills presents as a sensitive, engaged and otherwise law abiding young man, and we would echo these remarks.’
The court heard that the musician, who has no previous convictions, had undertaken ‘considerable charity work’ supporting young people in urban communities.
His barrister said that a report from a social worker showed that ‘attentive’ father who provided ‘warmth, affection and comfort’ to his children.
Ms Bennett-Jenkis urged the judge to impose a fine rather than a community order, adding: ‘There are of course some difficulties with that given Mr Mills’ occupation.
‘He has work difficult to schedule.’
The judge issued a one-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Ms Jones save for court proceedings and other official meetings or through his solicitors for childcare arrangements.
She also ordered Mills to pay £2,190 in costs.
Mills released his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, in 2003. His seventh studio album E3 AF, which refers to his east London postcode and African heritage, is due out on October 30.
He was made an MBE for services to music in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2020, and performed at festivals in August including Live At Lydiard in Swindon and Boardmasters in Cornwall.