The criminal cousin of chart-topping Grammy-winning pop star ‘Estelle' has pleaded guilty to having £350 worth of party-drugs cocaine and ecstasy on him when stopped by armed police.
Jude Lebaga, 30, was originally charged with dealing after officers searched his former Barking home – seizing more cocaine and ecstasy, plus a set of scales – but those allegations were dropped.
Lebaga, of Bicknoller Road, Enfield, who grew up with Hammersmith-born Estelle Fanta Swaray, 29,(pictured) who had a No. 1 hit with American Boy pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs in Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith on January 23, last year.
The prosecution dropped charges of intending to supply those drugs plus possessing further quantities of cocaine and ecstasy at Chelmer Crescent, Barking, with intent to supply.
His arrest was a major embarrassment for the star who months earlier spearheaded the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Trident “Respect. You Don’t Need A Gun To Get It,” anti-black on black crime drive.
In fact it was reportedly Operation Trident officers who stopped Lebaga, who has criminal convictions and was once sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
“This was a relatively large quantity for simple personal use,” announced Recorder William Featherby QC at Kingston Crown Court. “But the concentration of cocaine was relatively low, 17-19%.
“Provided the probation service assess him suitable for an unpaid work requirement it would seem to break the back of this.
“Although he has a poor record in other ways doesn’t have a serious drug record,” added Recorder Featherby.
An order was made for forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.
Lebaga was bailed to return for sentencing on condition he resides at his recorded address.
Estelle wrote the song 1980 about being raised in the same four-bed house as her cousins, uncles and aunts and brothers.
Some members were “in and out of prison daily,” she said.
Her Senegalese mother and Lebaga’s mother are sisters.
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