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| Finley Quaye outside Westminster Magistrates Court |
Drunken nineties pop star Finley Quaye has been sentenced for thumping a venue boss in the eye during a violent row after a gig.
The 45 year-old - who scooped a Brit Award in 1998 for Best British Male Solo Artist - also shouted threats he would throw a grenade and stab his victims in the kidney.
District Judge Michael Snow told the trouble-prone singer at Westminster Magistrates Court: “What makes this offence serious is the level of culpability involved.
“Before the punch you made considerable threats that would have caused significant fear then you punched this man in the face.”
The Edinburgh-born musician, of Bolton Gardens, Earl’s Court pleaded guilty to assaulting Robert Jenei at the Troubadour in nearby Old Brompton Road on September 8.
It is yet another arrest and conviction for the fallen star, who hit the heights with the release of his million-selling debut album Maverick a Strike.
Quaye was sentenced to 200 hours community service today and must pay £525, which he claims he can only afford to at £15 per week due to lack of live gigs.
“If you go around thumping managers in the face I don’t suppose you are going to get much work,” the judge told him.
Prosecutor Mr Malachy Pakenham said it was 1.30am and Quaye was being abusive and shouting threats at the venue’s security staff.
“He said he was going to punch them in the face and then punched the victim, causing bruising to his right eye.”
The singer shouted: “When I get out, I’ll f*** up you pussies. I’ll get a grenade. I’ll stab you lot in the kidney and in the windpipe.”
Mr. Jenei told police there was an incident with a the missing handbag of a woman Quaye says he just met, but who the victim assumed was his girlfriend.
“His girlfriend did not have her bag and I went back inside. When I returned he was angry and said he was going to punch me and he punched me in the eye.
“It was painful and the punch caused swelling and bruising. We restrained him on the floor and got him out.
“He attempted to pick up a bike and throw it, but it was chained to a pole. He went across the road and kicked a BMW.”
After his arrest Quaye told police: “I was drinking a lot of wine on an empty stomach. I was taking photos with people and wanted to get paid.
“There wasn’t much time between getting off stage and getting arrested, maybe thirty minutes. I wanted to stay in the flat upstairs, which I have done before.”
Referring to the victim Mr Jenei, Quaye added: “He’s always been good to me, he’s a diamond. I don’t have any recollection of punching him.”
The court heard Quaye has 14 convictions, including assault, threatening behaviour and possession of cannabis.
“There are a number of previous episodes of violence on his record that aggravates this assault on licensed premises. Ironically the manager he assaulted was trying to help him, help his girlfriend get her handbag back,” added the prosecutor.
Quaye’s lawyer Shahnaz Sargent told the court: “Mr Quaye had been performing at the club that day, had been there since 4pm with hand members setting up the session and while there he was drinking all day and some food was consumed.
“After the performance he greeted some people who were there to see him and more drinks were consumed.
“He has performed at that club on several occasions and is very ashamed at his behaviour. He accepts he has an alcohol problem and since this occasion has refrained from consuming alcohol in venues where he is performing.
“He cannot explain why his behaviour was so disorderly. He also denies being racially abusive to any police officers.
“He states he does have alcohol problems and a number of health issues that effect how he metabolises alcohol.”
Quaye was bankrupted in 2012, owing the taxman £383,000, and earns a living from £500-a time gigs and online music sales.
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