Finley Quaye: Singer pleads guilty to punching staff in face after pub gig

‘I will stab you lot in the kidney,' singer told staff. 'I will stab you in the wind pipe'

Finley Quaye performing at the BRIT Awards in 1998 (Rex Features)

BRIT award winning singer Finley Quaye has admitted to punching to punching a bar manager in the face in an unprovoked drunken assault.

They 45-year-old had been performing at a bar in South Kensington, London and drinking throughout the day before he turned on staff in the early hours of 8 September.

The Scottish singer won plaudits in the 1990s for his album Maverick a Strike, including one at the 1997 Mobo awards for best reggae act and another at the 1998 BRIT award for best male solo artist.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that Quaye had asked bar manager Robert Jenei to search for a woman's handbag.

But when the staff member returned the singer was "visibly angry", according to Malachy Pakenham, prosecuting​.

"The defendant was seen being verbally abusive and threatening towards the victim and security staff at a licensed premises, saying he was going to punch them in the face," he said. "The defendant then punched the victim in the face."

He went on to kick a BMW belonging to security staff before shouting: "I will stab you lot in the kidney, I will stab you in the wind pipe."

When questioned by officers the following day, Quaye said he had drank on an empty stomach and did not remember the incident.

He has since pleaded guilty to assault.

Describing the incident as an "unprovoked attack", Mr Pakenham said: "Ironically the manager he assaulted was the person trying to help him."

Shahnaz Sargent, defending, said man singer felt ashamed over his actions.

She added: "Mr Quaye accepts that he has got an alcohol problem. He had been drinking all day. He has performed there on several occasions and is in fact very ashamed of his behaviour. He accepts that he was out of order."

Quaye has since been released on conditional bail ahead of sentencing.

A panel of magistrates ordered probation to prepare a report on the singer before he is sentenced.

Additional reporting by Press Association