Tulisa Contostavlos drugs trial: Rapper Mike GLC admits to supplying cocaine to undercover reporter 'fake sheikh' Mazher Mahmood
The MC pleaded guilty to supplying the Class A drug when he appeared alongside the former X Factor judge at Southwark Crown Court
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Michael Coombs, Tulisa Contostavlos’s friend who is known as the rapper Mike GLC, has confessed to supplying cocaine to an undercover reporter.
The MC pleaded guilty to supplying the Class A drug when he appeared alongside the former X Factor judge at Southwark Crown Court in London this morning.
Contostavlos, 26, is set to stand trial after she vehemently denied brokering the alleged drug deal, exposed by the Sun on Sunday in 2013.
Undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood, dubbed the “fake sheikh”, claimed that the singer told him she could arrange for him to buy cocaine from Coombs between 20-24 May 2013.
Coombs pleaded guilty to supplying the Class A drug at the Dorchester Hotel in London on 23 May 2013.
Contostavlos denies aiding Mahmood to get hold of 0.5oz (13.9g) of cocaine for £860.
Contostavlos, who appeared in the dock wearing a black floral dress and a fitted white blazer, sat down next to Coombs. Coombs kissed Contostavlos on the cheek and touched her face before he left the dock after entering his plea.
Judge Alistair McCreath, who bailed Coombs, told the rapper he would be sentenced at the end of Contostavlos’ trial.
“Michael Coombs, I'll sentence you at the conclusion of the proceedings against your co-defendant, whatever that conclusion may be,” Judge McCreath said .
"In the meantime I'll permit you to keep your bail, but you must understand that that consists of no sort of indication as to what sentence you'll get at the end of it.
“On that understanding you may go.”
A jury was sworn in ahead of Contostavlos’ trial. The prosecution begins tomorrow.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.