Brit Award winner Finley Quaye sentenced for attack on bar manager

14 October 2019, 20:56

Brit Award winning singer Finley Quaye has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for punching a bar manager and threatening to stab him after a gig.

The singer, who won a Brit Award in the late 1990s, assaulted Robert Jenei outside the Troubadour in Earl's Court, west London, in the early hours of September 8.

Quaye, 45, had been performing at the bar and continued drinking there throughout the evening.

The trial took place at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where the court heard that Quaye had asked bar manager Mr Jenei to search for a friend's handbag after the pair had left the venue at around 1.30am.

After looking for the bag Mr Jenei returned to find Quaye "making threats to security staff", before punching the victim in the face.

Quaye then kicked a BMW belonging to security staff before shouting abuse including "I will stab you lot in the kidney" and "I will stab you in the windpipe".

When quizzed by police the next day Quaye said he had drunk alcohol on an empty stomach and did not remember punching Mr Jenei.

When asked in court if he had any work coming up, he replied: "No, not for lack of trying."

Judge Snow said: "If you go around thumping managers in the face, I don't suppose you are going to get much work."

At Quaye's sentencing on Monday, Shahnaz Sargent, defending, said he had been given a supply of free alcohol as one of the perks of performing at the bar.

She added that he had not eaten anything all day because he suffers from celiac disease.

The court also heard how Quaye has a string of convictions for offences including battery and public disorder.

Ms Sargent said: "He has made a determined effort to address his problems with alcohol and drugs."

She also confirmed he had been attending addiction services, adding: "He's very sorry for the way he behaved towards Mr Jenei."

Sentencing him to 200 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation order, Judge Michael Snow said: "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."

He was also ordered to pay costs and a fine totalling £525.

As Quaye is on benefits he offered to pay the sum at the rate of £15 a week.