'Fake Sheikh' denies 'spiking' Tulisa's drink

The undercover reporter known as the "Fake Sheikh" has told the trial of Tulisa Contostavlos it was '"outrageous" to suggest he spiked the former X-Factor judge's drink.

Giving evidence at London's Southwark Crown Court, Mazher Mahmood, denied "manipulating" the 26-year-old after he told her she was being considered for a leading role in a Slumdog Millionaire-type film, possibly co-starring Leonardo Di Caprio.

The court previously heard that Contostavlos spoke about being able to get "white sweets" - allegedly code for cocaine - while at the Metropolitan Hotel with Mr Mahmood on May 10 last year.

The prosecution suggested that Mr Mahmood and his colleague "Nish" spiked Contostavlos's drink to "manipulate" her when they met at the hotel.

Mr Mahmood replied: "Absolutely outrageous."

Under further cross-examination, Mr Mahmood told a court he wanted to "expose criminality" and denied the reason for the expose was to create a "sensational story".

Tulisa, of Friern Barnet, north London, denies being concerned in the supply of class A drugs between May 10 and May 23 last year.

The jury was sent home and told to return to court on Monday.

Read: Tulisa 'helped supply drugs to secure Hollywood film role'

The trial of Tulisa Contostavlos has been played a phone call in which the former X Factor judge is heard saying she could "definitely sort" so-called "white sweets" - apparently slang for cocaine.

The court was played the phone call in which undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood, posing as a film producer, asked: "What about white sweets?"

The former N-Dubz singer was heard replying: "I can definitely sort it. I just need to make some more calls."

Asked what he thought Contostavlos meant by "white sweets", Mr Mahmood said: "That she could supply me with cocaine, no problem."

Earlier Contostavlos told the court that she "did not initiate the supply of drugs" to Mr Mahmood, who is known as the 'Fake Sheikh'.

The trial continues.

The undercover reporter known as the "Fake Sheikh" has told the trial of Tulisa Contostavlos that she said she smoked cannabis but was not a cocaine user.

Mazher Mahmood gave evidence from behind a screen to protect his identity.

He told Southwark Crown Court that he met with the former N-Dubz singer at London's Metropolitan Hotel last year as he posed as a film producer.

Mr Mahmood said the former X Factor judge had discussed drug use with him and another undercover reporter. "She brought it up with words to the effect that she would go home tonight and have a drink and she might have cannabis to go to sleep," he told the court.

The reporter said they later discussed drugs at the hotel bar when Contostavlos said she was not a cocaine user but did smoke cannabis.

The trial continues.

Singer Tulisa Contostavlos told police she was just "playing a role" when she offered to get an undercover reporter "white sweets," a court heard.

The former X Factor judge, who was dropped from the show after the allegations surfaced, claimed her words "had been taken out of context."

In a statement when she was arrested last June she said: "I'm not a drug dealer. I didn't initiate the supply of drugs to the Sun journalist."

Tulisa, of Friern Barnet, north London, denies being concerned in the supply of class A drugs between May 10 and May 23 last year. The trial continues.

Former X factor judge and N-Dubz star Tulisa told an undercover reporter she could get hold of "white sweets" in an apparent reference to cocaine, a court heard.

The singer "did not negotiate the price or amount" but "did all she could to make a supply of cocaine happen," prosecutor Tim Cray said.

He added Tulisa's role in the deal at London's Dorchester Hotel in May last year was "instrumental."

The trial at Southwark Crown Court continues.

The jury in the Tulisa trial have been told to "keep their feet firmly on the ground" when considering the case.

Prosecutor Tim Cray asked them not to be swayed by the glitz of "showbusiness, journalism and the world of celebrity."

He said: "Trips to Las Vegas, expensive hotel bars and restaurants in the West End of London are not the sort of life that most people routinely come across.

"But a moment's thought will make you realise the defendant deserves to be judged by the same fair standards that anyone coming before these courts is entitled to."

The case, which could last up to three weeks, continues.

Former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos helped supply cocaine to an undercover reporter because she thought he was a Hollywood film producer who could "get her a part in a big movie," a court has heard.

The 26-year-old singer allegedly boasted she could "sort out" drugs for a man she knew as Samir Khan but who was actually Sun on Sunday journalist Mazher Mahmood, also known as the 'fake sheikh.'

Southwark Crown Court heard she was "keen to be in his good books" to get the part with Leonardo DiCaprio as her possible co-star.

She put Mr Mahmood in touch with her rapper friend Mike GLC who supplied the cocaine at a late-night rendezvous at London's five-star Dorchester Hotel last May, jurors heard.

The singer also allegedly bragged that her ex-boyfriend was a "major cocaine dealer" and she used to be part of a gang who sold crack cocaine.

Mike GLC, whose real name is Michael Coombs, 36, pleaded guilty on Monday to supplying half an ounce (13.9g) of cocaine for £860.

Prosecutor Tim Cray told jurors Tulisa was "instrumental" in setting up the deal.

She denies one charge of being concerned with the supply of class A drugs. The trial continues.

Former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos had to leave a hearing briefly over an alleged drug deal because she suffered a sudden nose bleed in the dock.

She returned after a short adjournment.

The case was adjourned until 10am tomorrow when the prosecution are due to open the case.

Michael Coombs has been bailed after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine to an undercover reporter.

The rapper known as Mike GLC admitted to supplying the Class A drug when he appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court alongside the former N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos.

Bailing Coombs, Judge Alistair McCreath told the rapper he would be sentenced at the end of Contostavlos' trial. He said: "Michael Coombs, I'll sentence you at the conclusion of the proceedings against your co-defendant, whatever that conclusion may be.

"In the meantime I'll permit you to keep your bail, but you must understand that that consists of no sort of indication as to what sentence you'll get at the end of it. On that understanding you may go".