Dizzee Rascal's ex-fiancee accused of 'embellishing and lying' about alleged assault, court told

Dizzee Rascal’s ex-fiancee has “embellished and lied” over her accusations that the grime artist “pushed her to the ground”, a court has heard.

The 36-year-old rapper, whose chart-topping singles include Bonkers and Dance Wiv Me, had two children with Cassandra Jones before they split in February 2021.

The defendant, whose real name is Dylan Mills, denies assaulting Jones at a residential property in Streatham, south London, on June 8 last year.

Mills, of Sevenoaks in Kent, appeared in a suit and tie at the Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court trial on Friday after being charged on 2 August 2020.

Prosecutor Helena Duong told the court that Mills had become “frustrated” over custody arrangements and the pair had a “chaotic” argument when he dropped their daughter off at the property.

Ms Duong claimed Mills “barged” his way into the house and started “shouting and screaming” before “banging his head three times on the fridge with his son in his arms”.

He then allegedly “put his forehead against hers and pushed her around the room” before he “pushed her to the ground” causing bruising to her arm.

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Mills was out of control, court hears

Ms Jones told the court through tears that she repeatedly asked him to leave the house and to give back their baby son, adding he was “out of control”.

She said: “I was scared for my babies.”

However, Sally Bennett-Jenkins QC, who was defending Mills, asked the court to throw out the case due to “embellishments, exaggerations, inconsistencies and lies” in Ms Jones’s evidence.

She said: “Ms Jones was prepared to say absolutely anything about the altercation, which was verbal, we say.”

Ms Bennett-Jenkins also argued that Ms Jones had “accepted” she previously lied about how he had assaulted her.

While questioning Ms Jones, the lawyer asked why she wrote in her first police statement that Mills had “thrown her to the ground” instead of “pushed” or “barged”, which was now being used.

Cassandra Jones: ‘I’m sorry I used the wrong word but what happened happened’

Ms Jones, who started to get upset during the cross-examination, said: “I was in shock about what had happened and I was still caring for both our babies.

“I’m sorry I used the wrong word but what happened happened and all I can do is speak my truth.”

The court also saw body-worn footage worn by PC Stephanie Johnstone, who attended the scene, which showed Mills saying she needed to arrest him because of an allegation that “you had picked up and thrown her”.

Mills could be heard replying: “She pushed me.”

In a police statement read out in court, Mills denied the allegations and accused his ex-fiancee of assaulting him.

He said: “I did not push Cassandra to the floor. I did not push her forehead with my forehead.”

The prosecution rejected Ms Bennett-Jenkins’s argument that Ms Jones was not a “credible” witness.

District Judge Polly Gledhill then denied the defence’s request to throw out proceedings, as she said: “At the moment I am satisfied that there is a case to be answered.”

The rapper will return to Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court to give his evidence on 7 March.

He denies assault by beating and the trial continues.

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