Former footballer Taiwo Leo Atieno appeared in court docket charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Sugababes star Keisha Buchanan after allegedly controlling what she might put on and when she might bathe
A former skilled footballer has appeared in court docket charged with assaulting Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan and controlling when she might bathe or go to the gymnasium.
Taiwo Leo Atieno, 39, faces eight prices referring to his ex-girlfriend, Ms Buchanan, throughout an roughly 13-year interval. The former Luton City and Kenya nationwide workforce participant appeared by way of video hyperlink from HMP Wormwood Scrubs sporting a go well with and tie.
He was not requested to enter pleas and Choose Ian Bourne KC granted his launch from jail on conditional bail in the course of the Harrow Crown Courtroom case sitting at Southwark on Thursday. Atieno, from Brixton, south London, is charged with assaulting the founding Sugababes singer between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2015, inflicting her precise bodily hurt.
He’s additionally charged with controlling or coercive behaviour towards Ms Buchanan between December 29, 2015 and Might 1 2018. The cost alleges that he opened Ms Buchanan’s correspondences, wouldn’t let her put on pink lipstick, and that he managed her funds and when she might go to the gymnasium or bathe.
The cost claims this brought about Ms Buchanan “severe alarm or misery which had a considerable hostile impact” on her “normal day-to-day actions”.
The previous ahead, who additionally performed for golf equipment together with Walsall, Nuneaton Borough, Rochdale, Chester Metropolis, Kidderminster Harriers, Darlington, Tamworth, Stevenage, Torquay United and Barnet, is accused of doing this “at a time when he knew or should have identified that the behaviour can have a severe impact” on her.
Atieno can also be charged with six counts of breaching a non-molestation order, twice by allegedly posting details about Ms Buchanan to a 3rd get together on-line on July 18 and July 20 final yr.
He’s additionally accused of breaching the order by emailing Ms Buchanan on August 2, November 19, December 19 and December 23, 2024.
His bail circumstances embody that he should give up his passport by Monday afternoon.
The decide stated: “There should not be any contact both straight or not directly with the complainant Keisha Buchanan. Meaning any type of contact, whether or not it’s by electronic mail or different kind of social media messaging system – any contact in any respect”.
Julian Malins KC, defending, stated his consumer “absolutely understands it, and assures the court docket by us that he’ll abide by that”.
Atieno was additionally informed to not apply for worldwide journey or to enter the London Borough of Barnet. He is because of enter pleas on August 22 this yr and a provisional trial is ready for April 13, 2026.
Ms Buchanan was an adolescent when she grew to become one of many unique members of the Sugababes with Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy in 1998. Donaghy left in 2001 and was changed by Heidi Vary.
Buena was changed by Amelle Berrabah in 2005 and Buchanan, the ultimate unique member, was changed by Jade Ewen in 2009.
The founding trio regained the appropriate to make use of the Sugababes title in 2019 and reunited in 2022 to carry out at Glastonbury Competition.
