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| Brinsley Forde MBE |
The founder and former lead singer of UK reggae band Aswad smothered his partner with bedclothes and ripped off her t-shirt and knickers hours after she aborted another man's baby.
Brinsley Forde MBE, 61, who hit number one in the charts with 'Don't Turn Around' in 1988 flew into a rage at 3am when given the cold-shoulder by Jemma Payne as the couple lay in bed.
Forde, of The Courtway, Watford was convicted at Croydon Magistrates Court of assaulting Miss Payne, the mother of his young son, at her flat at 2 Orford Court, Elmcourt Road, West Norwood on October 30, last year.
"Brinsley wanted to be close to have a cuddle. He put his arm around me and tried to bring me close, but I told him I did not want to be close to him, I wanted to be left alone," she told the trial.
"He got very angry and upset. He lost his temper and went into a blind rage and grabbed and shook me like a rag doll.
"He put either a pillow or duvet over my face in a blind rage and held it down. I couldn't breathe and I started to panic and kick out with my legs.
"I jumped off the bed, but he ran around and ripped-off my t-shirt with one sweep from under my arm, tearing it off and did the same with my pants from the front, ripped them off.
"I had chafe marks under my arm, a burn sensation that came up as a bruise the next day."
The court heard Forde, who is also a radio presenter and actor, confiscated several pairs of shoes he bought Jemma as he left the flat, but then turned and blocked the front door.
"I picked-up a shoe and threw it at him and as he moved back I shut the front door," she explained.
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| Jemma Payne |
The attacked was reported to police a week later on November 6 and Jemma explained: "I did not report it at the time because of domestic violence in our relationship.
"I realised he was an unsafe person to have around my son and I was worried social services would take him away. That's why I didn't report it.
However, Forde claims there was no assault and Jemma made a false statement because he threatened to tell social services she wanted to buy cannabis from associates nicknamed the 'Frontline' in Brixton.
He was arrested on November 7 at a social services meeting, which was due to discuss, among other topics, their son's Child Protection Plan.
Forde told police: "My ex has made these allegations up because I was going to report her to social services about our son."
When cross-examined Miss Payne did not deny becoming pregnant with another man, adding: "I'm afraid of Brinsley and his behaviour.
"Social services are happy for me to come off child protection as long as I have nothing to do with Brinsley. He's a danger to my son."
Forde told the court the row was about Jemma's affair and abortion. "The chances were that she was back with her ex-boyfriend. I found his underwear in the house.
"I once picked-up the phone when he thought it was Jemma and he asked: "Is the fool still there?'
"I would say she has anger issues that came up now and again and I am facing a charge that discredits me and I have not seen my son."
He told the court he was forced to grab Miss Payne's wrists to defend himself as she tried to punch and kick him.
District Judge Andrew Sweet ruled: "Mr. Forde was clearly upset by the pregnancy and by being rebuffed and grabbed hold of Miss Payne and shook her, ripped her t-shirt and pants off and covered her face with the pillow case or duvet.
"I'm satisfied Miss Payne was telling the truth. This is a very serious allegation," added the district judge, bailing Forde until june 2 for a pre-sentence report.
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