Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood found guilty of perverting course of justice

By The Newsroom
Published 5th Oct 2016, 13:08 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2016, 20:49 BST
Undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood (left), who was known as the "Fake Sheikh", arrives at the Old Bailey in London. Picture: PAUndercover journalist Mazher Mahmood (left), who was known as the "Fake Sheikh", arrives at the Old Bailey in London. Picture: PA
Undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood (left), who was known as the "Fake Sheikh", arrives at the Old Bailey in London. Picture: PA
Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood is facing jail for tampering with evidence in the collapsed drugs trial of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos.

Following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey, a jury found the 53-year-old “King of the Sting” and his driver, Alan Smith, 67, guilty of plotting to pervert the course of justice.

The pair conspired to suppress evidence in the N-Dubz star’s trial, which was thrown out at Southwark Crown Court in July 2014.

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The singer had been accused of arranging for Mahmood to be sold £800 of cocaine by one of her contacts following an elaborate sting for the Sun on Sunday in May 2013.

During a meeting at the Metropolitan Hotel in London, Mahmood posed as a film producer and plied Miss Contostavlos with alcohol as they discussed an acting role alongside Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.

As Smith drove the former X Factor judge home to Hertfordshire, she allegedly spoke about a family member who had a drugs problem.

When he was interviewed by police about the journey more than a year later, Smith, of Dereham, Norfolk, recalled the conversation.

But a day later, after speaking to Mahmood and emailing his draft statement, the singer’s anti-drugs comments were removed, the court heard.

At a pre-trial hearing, Mahmood denied being an “agent provocateur” or that he discussed the drugs conversation with Smith.