X-Factor Finalist's Shoplifting Race Rant

Court Date: Hylton

Former X-Factor star Rachel Hylton screamed: “You f***ing black man. Go back to Africa,” at a member of staff who caught her nicking food in Iceland, a court heard yesterday.

The 37 year-old singer, who made the Series 5 final, ending up in sixth place, also grabbed the man’s neck and pressed her finger into the face of a female staff member.

Hylton, of Waddon Road, Croydon pleaded guilty to stealing £26 worth of food items from the local Surrey Street store on February 16.

She also pleaded guilty to assaulting Peter Njoku; using racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards him and assaulting Abigail Kelly.

Prosecutor Rahab Njoroge told Croydon Magistrates Court it was 2.50pm when Mr. Njoku spotted Hylton putting items into her shopping bag and leave without making any attempt to pay.

“With the help of a colleague they brought the defendant back into the shop and the defendant was very aggressive.

“She grabbed the bag she was carrying and there was a struggle and the defendant was shouting: ‘He’s a f***ing African. You f***ing black man. Go back to Africa.’

“She threw a shopping basket towards Mr. Njoku and he managed to move away from it and it did not hit him.

“She was still shouting at Mr. Njoku and she grabbed hold of his neck and was removed by other members of staff.

“She continued to be abusive and eventually her shopping bag was removed from her and the items recovered.”

Performer: Hylton

Hylton wanted another bag of hers returned and confronted Ms Kelly in the store’s office. “She used her finger to poke her face in a threatening and aggressive way.”

The police were called and officers questioned Hylton. “She admitted shoplifting and throwing the basket, but denied having her hands around Mr. Njoku’s neck,” added Ms Njoroge.

Hylton received 26 weeks imprisonment in June, 2017 for having a knife and the Probation Service described her post-release compliance as “very, very poor,” only attending 8 out of 23 appointments.

She has been diagnosed with depression and emotionally unstable personality disorder.

District Judge Susan Holdman deferred sentence until January 31 because Hylton has been offered 15 weeks of residential drugs rehab.

“It is really important to keep out of trouble,” the judge told her.