12 July 2023 , 12:18
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Blue singer Lee Ryan is back in court on Wednesday after successfully appealing to withdraw a plea of guilty to assaulting a police officer.
The 40-year-old All Rise star - who has been a member of chart topping boyband Blue since the group was formed in 1999 - is charged with the alleged assault of a police officer.
Lee had originally plead guilty to assaulting the officer in question - but then won the right to withdraw his guilty plea. Lee was arrested upon landing in July last year - where he allegedly tried to bite Police Constable Bryett and was subsequently charged with assaulting a police officer.
Blue singer Lee Ryan is back in court after winning the right to have a guilty plea revoked (PA)After pleading guilty, he appealed to the courts to be allowed to change his guilty plea in relation to the charge of assaulting a police officer.
Lee told the court he regretted following the advice of his solicitor Mike Rainford to plead guilty to assaulting the police officer. Lee told Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month: “I asked him if there was more time because it felt so rushed, and he said there was no time.
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“It had become very clear that he either didn’t care or just wasn’t prepared.
“I realised Mike wasn’t great. He wasn’t doing his job properly – there were warning signs.”
The chart topping star was photographed outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Wednesday (PA)He also told the court he felt he was “being made to do it” when he entered his guilty plea to assaulting a police officer.
The court found in his favour, with deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram telling Lee and the court: “There is a feature of this case that makes it slightly different.
“Mr Ryan was diagnosed with ADHD. He has subsequently been diagnosed with Asperger’s.
“One of the challenges that people with high-functioning autism can have is slow processing of information and responding inappropriately to what is said.
“Mr Ryan was advised. He received that advice as an instruction.
“In these circumstances I am in real doubt as to whether it was an informed admission of guilt or a following of instructions. It would be unjust not to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea.”
A fresh hearing is due on Wednesday 12 July where the courts will decide if Lee should face a new trial relating to the police assault charge.
The Blue singer entered a second, not guilty plea after previously being convicted of assaulting a police officer and is expected to request a re-trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
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