Latest news with #TaiwoAtieno
Sky News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Ex-footballer appears in court charged with assaulting Sugababes singer
A former professional footballer has appeared in court charged with assaulting Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan, as well as controlling or coercive behaviour. Taiwo Leo Atieno faces eight charges relating to his ex-girlfriend, Ms Buchanan, across an approximately 13-year period. The 39-year-old, who played for Luton Town while they were in the Conference Premier league between 2010 and 2011, appeared via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs wearing a suit and tie. Atieno was not asked to enter pleas and Judge Ian Bourne KC granted his release from prison on conditional bail during the Harrow Crown Court case sitting at Southwark on Thursday. Atieno, who was born in Brixton in London but played for the Kenyan national team, is charged with assaulting the founding Sugababes singer between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2015 - causing her actual bodily harm. He is also charged with controlling or coercive behaviour against Ms Buchanan between 29 December 2015 and 1 May 2018. The charge alleges he opened Ms Buchanan's correspondences, controlled her finances and when she could go to the gym and shower, and would not let her wear red lipstick. The charge claims this caused Ms Buchanan "serious alarm or distress which had a substantial adverse effect" on her "usual day-to-day activities". He is accused of doing this "at a time when he knew or ought to have known that the behaviour will have a serious effect" on her. Atieno is also charged with six counts of breaching a non-molestation order, twice by allegedly posting information about Ms Buchanan to a third party online on 18 July and 20 July 2024. He is further accused of breaching the order by emailing Ms Buchanan on 2 August, 19 November, 19 December and 23 December 2024. His bail conditions stipulate that he must surrender his passport. The judge said: "There must not be any contact either directly or indirectly with the complainant Keisha Buchanan. "That means any form of contact, whether it be by email or other sort of social media messaging system - any contact at all". Julian Malins KC, defending, said Atieno "fully understands it, and assures the court through us that he will abide by that". Atieno was also told not to apply for international travel or to enter the London Borough of Barnet. He is due to enter pleas on 22 August. His trial is set to begin on 13 April 2026. Ms Buchanan became one of the original members of the Sugababes with Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy as a teenager in 1998. Donaghy left in 2001 and was replaced by Heidi Rang, while Buena was replaced by Amelle Berrabah in 2005. Buchanan, the last remaining original member, was replaced by Jade Ewen in 2009. The founding trio regained the right to use the Sugababes name in 2019. They reunited to perform at Glastonbury Festival in 2022.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Former footballer ‘assaulted Sugababes star and banned her wearing red lipstick'
A former professional footballer has appeared in court charged with assaulting Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan, and controlling when she could shower or go to the gym. Taiwo Leo Atieno (39) faces eight charges relating to his ex-girlfriend, Ms Buchanan, during an approximately 13-year period. Advertisement The former Luton Town and Kenya national team player appeared via video link from Wormwood Scrubs prison in England wearing a suit and tie. The Sugababes (left to right) Heidi Range, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan in 2002 (Yui Mok/PA) He was not asked to enter pleas and Judge Ian Bourne KC granted his release from prison on conditional bail during the Harrow Crown Court case sitting at Southwark in London on Thursday. Atieno, from Brixton, south London, is charged with assaulting the founding Sugababes singer between January 1st, 2012, and January 1st, 2015, causing her actual bodily harm. He is also charged with controlling or coercive behaviour against Ms Buchanan between December 29th, 2015, and May 1st, 2018. Advertisement The charge alleges that he opened Ms Buchanan's correspondences, would not let her wear red lipstick, and that he controlled her finances and when she could go to the gym or shower. The charge claims this caused Ms Buchanan 'serious alarm or distress which had a substantial adverse effect' on her 'usual day-to-day activities'. He is accused of doing this 'at a time when he knew or ought to have known that the behaviour will have a serious effect' on her. Atieno is also charged with six counts of breaching a non-molestation order, twice by allegedly posting information about Ms Buchanan to a third party online on July 18th and July 20th last year. Advertisement He is also accused of breaching the order by emailing Ms Buchanan on August 2nd, November 19th, December 19th and December 23rd, 2024. His bail conditions include that he must surrender his passport by Monday afternoon. Taiwo Atieno (right) playing for Torquay United (PA) The judge said: 'There must not be any contact either directly or indirectly with the complainant Keisha Buchanan. 'That means any form of contact, whether it be by email or other sort of social media messaging system – any contact at all'. Advertisement Julian Malins KC, defending, said his client 'fully understands it, and assures the court through us that he will abide by that'. Atieno was also told not to apply for international travel or to enter the London Borough of Barnet. He is due to enter pleas on August 22nd this year and his trial is set for April 13th, 2026. Ms Buchanan was a teenager when she became one of the original members of the Sugababes with Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy in 1998. Advertisement Entertainment Sugababes' Keisha Buchanan: Harshness in music ind... Read More Donaghy left in 2001 and was replaced by Heidi Range. Buena was replaced by Amelle Berrabah in 2005 and Buchanan, the final original member, was replaced by Jade Ewen in 2009. The founding trio regained the right to use the Sugababes name in 2019 and reunited in 2022 to perform at Glastonbury Festival.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Taiwo Leo Atieno accused of assaulting Sugababes' Keisha Buchanan
A former professional footballer has appeared in court charged with assaulting Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan, and controlling when she could shower, wear lipstick or go to the Leo Atieno, 39, faces eight charges relating to his ex-girlfriend, Ms Buchanan, during an approximately 13-year former Luton Town and Kenya national team player appeared via video-link wearing a suit and was granted conditional bail and is due to enter pleas in August. Mr Atieno, from Brixton, south London, is charged with assaulting the founding Sugababes member between 2012 and 2015, causing her actual bodily is also charged with controlling or coercive behaviour against Ms is alleged he opened Ms Buchanan's correspondence, would not let her wear red lipstick, and that he controlled her finances and when she could go to the gym or judge told him during the Harrow Crown Court case (sitting at Southwark) he must not contact Ms Buchanan, must not enter the district of Barnet and must surrender his passport. Ms Buchanan was a teenager when she became one of the original members of the Sugababes with Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy in 1998.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Former footballer ‘assaulted Sugababes star and banned her wearing red lipstick'
A former professional footballer has appeared in court charged with assaulting Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan, and controlling when she could shower or go to the gym. Taiwo Leo Atieno, 39, faces eight charges relating to his ex-girlfriend, Ms Buchanan, during an approximately 13-year period. The former Luton Town and Kenya national team player appeared via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs wearing a suit and tie. He was not asked to enter pleas and Judge Ian Bourne KC granted his release from prison on conditional bail during the Harrow Crown Court 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 causing her actual bodily harm. He is also charged with controlling or coercive behaviour against Ms Buchanan between December 29 2015 and May 1 2018. The charge alleges that he opened Ms Buchanan's correspondences, would not let her wear red lipstick, and that he controlled her finances and when she could go to the gym or shower. The charge claims this caused Ms Buchanan 'serious alarm or distress which had a substantial adverse effect' on her 'usual day-to-day activities'. He is accused of doing this 'at a time when he knew or ought to have known that the behaviour will have a serious effect' on her. Atieno is also charged with six counts of breaching a non-molestation order, twice by allegedly posting information about Ms Buchanan to a third party online on July 18 and July 20 last year. He is also accused of breaching the order by emailing Ms Buchanan on August 2, November 19, December 19 and December 23 2024. His bail conditions include that he must surrender his passport by Monday afternoon. The judge said: 'There must not be any contact either directly or indirectly with the complainant Keisha Buchanan. 'That means any form of contact, whether it be by email or other sort of social media messaging system – any contact at all'. Julian Malins KC, defending, said his client 'fully understands it, and assures the court through us that he will abide by that'. Atieno was also told not to apply for international travel or to enter the London Borough of Barnet. He is due to enter pleas on August 22 this year and his trial is set for April 13 2026. Ms Buchanan was a teenager when she became one of the original members of the Sugababes with Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy in 1998. Donaghy left in 2001 and was replaced by Heidi Range. Buena was replaced by Amelle Berrabah in 2005 and Buchanan, the final original member, was replaced by Jade Ewen in 2009. The founding trio regained the right to use the Sugababes name in 2019 and reunited in 2022 to perform at Glastonbury Festival.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Footballer appears in court accused of beating Sugababes ex Keisha Buchanan in ‘ten-year campaign of terror'
A FOOTBALLER has appeared in court charged with beating his Sugababes ex Keisha Buchanan in a ten-year "campaign of terror". Taiwo Leo Atieno is accused of grabbing the singer's neck and punching her in the arm and back. 6 6 The 39-year-old, who played for Luton, also controlled what Keisha, 40, ate and blocked her from wearing red lipstick, it is said. Atieno appeared at Southwark Crown Court today charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He is also accused of engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour, harassment without violence and breaching a non-molestation order. The footballer did not enter pleas during the hearing, which was adjourned until August 22 for technical reasons. A five-day trial has been set for April 13 next year at the same court. Atieno was granted bail subject to a series of conditions including a £10,000 surety and residence at his home address in Brixton. He must not enter the London Borough of Barnet, not contact the complainant and not apply for any international travel documents. Atieno, who will also have to surrender his passport, is accused of assaulting Keisha on three occasions - including one that left her needing physiotherapy treatment. The court heard previously how he allegedly conducted a "campaign of terror and abuse against the complainant for over ten years.' Keisha alleges he controlled her finances and use of the shower while they were living together. The footballer is also accused of allowing her to only go the gym "at certain times" and blocking her from watching TV. When he was blocked from contacting the singer by a family court order, it is alleged Atieno still sent emails to her. He is also accused of harassing Keisha over the course of three years with texts, emails, social media contact and a request for £25,000. Atieno has been charged with controlling and coercive behaviour between December 2015 and May 2018 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm between January 2012 and January 2015. He is also accused of harassment between January 2021 and December last year and an alleged breach of a non-molestation order. His lawyer claims the pair first met in 2006 and began dating in 2011, and that the footballer also worked as her business manager. The Kenya international played for a string of teams - including Walsall, Tamworth, Luton Town, Stevenage, and Torquay United - before retiring in 2013. Keisha was one of the original members of Sugababes alongside Mutya Buena and Siobhan Dohaghy. She enjoyed solo success before reuniting with her former bandmates. 6 6 6 6
