Ex-lead singer of reggae band Aswad is convicted just weeks after he was given an MBE - of smothering girlfriend and tearing off her clothes after she aborted another man's baby
- Brinsley Forde, 61, attacked the mother of his child at her London flat
- She described how he smothered her in bed and ripped off her clothes
- Forde, who founded 80s
group Aswad, was yesterday convicted of assault - Comes weeks after he was given MBE by Prince William at Windsor Castle
Convicted: Brinsley Forde, 61, pictured outside Croydon Magistrates' Court yesterday
The former lead singer of 80s reggae group Aswad smothered his girlfriend in bed and ripped off her clothes hours after she aborted another man's baby.
Brinsley Forde, 61, was yesterday convicted of assaulting Jemma Payne, the mother of his two-year-old son, at her flat in West Norwood, South London, in October last year.
It comes just weeks after the singer, who achieved a number one hit in 1988 with Don't Turn Around, was presented with an MBE by Prince William at Windsor Castle.
Ms Payne described how Forde shook her 'like a rag doll' when she refused his advances as they lay in bed. She added that she continues to live in fear and said he was a 'danger' to their son.
Ms Payne told the court: ' Brinsley wanted to be close to have a cuddle. He put his arm around me and tried to bring me close, but I told him I did not want to be close to him, I wanted to be left alone.
'He got very angry and upset. He lost his temper and went into a blind rage and grabbed and shook me like a rag doll.
'He put either a pillow or duvet over my face in a blind rage and held it down. I couldn't breathe and I started to panic and kick out with my legs.
'I jumped off the bed, but he ran around and ripped-off my t-shirt with one sweep from under my arm, tearing it off and did the same with my pants from the front, ripped them off.
'I had chafe marks under my arm, a burn sensation that came up as a bruise the next day.'
The court heard Forde, who also works as a radio presenter and actor, confiscated several pairs of shoes he bought Ms Payne as he left the flat, but then turned and blocked the front door.
She said: 'I picked-up a shoe and threw it at him and as he moved back I shut the front door.'
The attack was reported to police a week later on November 6. Ms Payne said she initially did not report the attack 'because of domestic violence in their relationship'.
She said: ' I realised he was an unsafe person to have around my son and I was worried social services would take him away. That's why I didn't report it.'
However, Forde claims there was no assault and that Ms Payne made a false statement because he threatened to tell social services she had wanted to buy cannabis from associates.
Honoured: The conviction comes just weeks after the singer, who achieved a number one hit in 1988 with Don't Turn Around, was presented with an MBE by Prince William at Windsor Castle, pictured above
Attack: Ms Payne described how Forde, pictured with his MBE, shook her 'like a rag doll' during the assault
He was arrested on November 7 at a social services meeting, which was due to discuss, among other topics, their son's Child Protection Plan.
Forde told police: 'My ex has made these allegations up because I was going to report her to social services about our son.'
When cross-examined, Ms Payne did not deny becoming pregnant with another man, adding: 'I'm afraid of Brinsley and his behaviour.
'Social services are happy for me to come off child protection as long as I have nothing to do with Brinsley. He's a danger to my son.'
He put either a pillow or duvet over my face in a blind rage and held it down. I couldn't breathe and I started to panic and kick out with my legs
Jemma Payne
Forde told the court the row was about Ms Payne affair and abortion.
He said: ' The chances were that she was back with her ex-boyfriend. I found his underwear in the house.
'I once picked-up the phone when he thought it was Jemma and he asked: "Is the fool still there?"
'I would say she has anger issues that came up now and again and I am facing a charge that discredits me and I have not seen my son.'
He told the court he was forced to grab Ms Payne's wrists to defend himself as she tried to punch and kick him.
Magistrate Mr Howard Cohen said: ' Whilst this gentleman is of good character the offence itself does cross the custody threshold because of the nature and circumstances of the assault.
Brinsley Forde pictured left in the 1980s, with bandmates Drummie Zeb (centre) and Tony Gad (right)
'We are concerned by a lack of remorse and Mr Forde may not fully appreciate how unacceptable his behaviour was.'
He agreed to impose an indefinite restraining order prohibiting Forde contacting Ms Payne and visiting her home.
Forde's lawyer Mr. Nicholas Robinshaw said: 'He's had a number of previous relationships and sees his children from those relationships regularly.
'Never in those relationships has there ever been a suggestion of impropriety.
I jumped off the bed, but he ran around and ripped-off my t-shirt with one sweep from under my arm, tearing it off and did the same with my pants from the front, ripped them off
Jemma Payne
'This is very much a one-off. It has never happened before and is unlikely to happen again. It appears there was infidelity early on, on both sides, it's over.'
Mr Cohen told Forde, who still protests his innocence: 'This is a blot on what otherwise would be seen as blameless character.
'You have done a great deal in the service of the community and that's been recognised by an award.
'However, any assault that takes place in a domestic setting is serious. That woman was entitled to feel safe and secure in her own home and an assault is an abuse of that.
'The nature of the assault is of great concern to use, but we have pulled back from passing a custodial sentence.'
Forde was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes 300 hours community service work and was ordered to pay £200 compensation to Ms Payne, £350 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
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