Caroline Flack’s boyfriend Lewis Burton denies she smashed him over the head with a lamp as he says ‘arguments happen’
CAROLINE Flack’s boyfriend today DENIED prosecutors’ claims she smashed him over the head with a lamp in a jealous rage – insisting: “Arguments do happen”.
The ex-Love Island host, 40, wept at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court as she was accused of assaulting Lewis Burton, 27, in his sleep after finding texts from a woman on his phone.
Cops found Flack and Mr Burton covered in blood “like a horror movie” after she attacked him over fears he was cheating on her, the court heard.
Prosecutors alleged she left him with a significant head injury at her North London home on December 12.
But Mr Burton, who was also in court to watch the proceedings, denied the allegations against his girlfriend in a Instagram post after the hearing.
The model and tennis player shared a loved-up image of the couple on Instagram, saying a bail condition banning them from seeing each other was “heartbreaking”.
He wrote: “It’s heartbreaking I can’t see my girlfriend over Christmas. What I witnessed today was horrible. She did not hit me with a lamp.
“Arguments do happen every day in a every relationships. Gutted I am not allowed to protect her right now.”
The prosecution said Mr Burton told a 999 call handler “she tried to kill me” in a three-minute call after the alleged attack.
Prosecutor Kate Weiss told the court: “During the 999 call he said quite clearly that his girlfriend was beating him up.
“He is almost begging the operator to send help. He said ‘she’s going mad, breaking stuff, she almost cracked my head open.'”
Flack could be heard shouting “you ruined my life” and repeatedly calling him an “a***hole” in the background, the court heard.
After her arrest, Flack “flipped over a table and had to be restrained on the ground”, the prosecution said.
But Mr Burton doesn’t support the prosecution and doesn’t consider himself a victim, Flack’s lawyer told the court.
The prosecution said a trial would see bodycam footage from police officers at the scene and hear the 999 call.
The prosecutor also claimed Flack “flouted” her bail condition not to have any direct or indirect contact with Mr Burton.
Ms Weiss said: “She breached this almost immediately by posting a message on Instagram by writing ‘to my boyfriend I love you’.”
Flack begged the judge to have a bail condition banning her from talking to Mr Burton lifted, but it was denied – meaning the couple will have to spend Christmas apart.
Moments after leaving court, Flack thanked her fans for their support in on her Instagram story.
She wrote: “Thankfully I know a lot of you will not believe all that you have heard and read following today’s court hearing … thank you for your continued support and love….
“It’s going to be a relief when I am able to give my side of the story, when I’m allowed to x.”
Paul Morris, Flack’s lawyer, argued his client had suffered enough and she would “conduct herself properly”.
He told the court: “They had been in a relationship all of this year and he appears in court today to support her and they remain a couple
“She wants to spend time with her partner. If the conditions were lifted there would be no concerns.
“It’s not an irrelevant point: it’s Christmas, it’s New Year, she’s suffered enough.
“She is in the public eye – this case has been scrutinised, she will conduct herself properly,”
Earlier, former Strictly winner Flack was escorted to the North London court by police wearing a black coat, scarf and boots.
She kept her head down and broke into tears as she got inside.
She walked past Mr Burton in the packed gallery and wiped her eyes as she stood in front of the glass-enclosed dock to confirm her name, address, and date of birth before the single charge was read out.
Mr Morris interrupted proceedings to tell Judge Newton that Mr Burton does not support the prosecution.
He said: “He is not a victim, he is a witness.”
When the charge was put to Flack for a second time, she answered: “Not guilty.”
Ms Wiess said: “He is a victim, he sustained a significant injury to his head.”
Mr Morris continued: “He would not suggest that the injuries are significant in the way the prosecution submit.”
Mr Burton put his hand to his face before the couple left the court room separately.
Flack was released on conditional bail before her trial on March 4.
‘WORST TIME OF MY LIFE’
Mr Burton and Flack do not follow each other on Instagram, but the couple had regularly shared pictures of each other loved up on their social media accounts.
Yesterday she shared a heartbreaking message saying she didn’t know “where to go” or “who to trust”.
Flack wrote: “This is the worst time of my life. I don’t know where to go to. Where to look. Who to trust. Or I even am.”
Cops raced to Flack’s Islington home where the couple lived together following reports of a man being assaulted on December 12.
The 5ft 3in star is accused of beating up the 6ft 4in ex-tennis player.
Several officers and police vehicles were pictured outside the ITV2 star’s home following the early-morning row and there were also images of blood on their door.
The TV star stepped down from being the host of ITV’s hit show Love Island after she was charged with assault by beating.
Laura Whitmore, 34, was named as Flack’s replacement in a £500,000 deal.
Flack confirmed the news on Instagram saying: “I’m glad it’s Laura — she loves the show as much as I do.
“Again, thank you for your messages of support. It’s a really rough time but I’m doing all I can to keep my head above water and sort this out.”
Mr Burton declared his love for Flack on Instagram yesterday when she shared a throwback clip of her from happier times.
He wrote on the black and white clip: “I love this girl.”
Flack will next appear in court for her trial, which is expected to last a day and a half.
