Singer Nahli Sentenced for Unprovoked Glass Attack on Clubgoer in London
Natalie Pickthall, a 36-year-old singer who performs under the stage name Nahli and was formerly a member of the girl group IV Rox, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to an assault at a London nightclub. The incident, described in court as an 'unprovoked' attack, left an audience member with blood streaming down her face from a 2cm gash in her eyebrow.
Details of the Assault at The Box Soho
Prosecutor Mr Pakenham, who did not provide his first name, told Westminster Magistrates' Court that the attack occurred in the early hours of July 26 at The Box Soho in London. According to a statement from the victim, Eleanora Morgan, she was walking to the smoking area when she was approached by Pickthall's ex-partner, whom she had never met before.
Pickthall then approached them and threw a drink in Ms Morgan's face, followed by lobbing the cup at her, which cut into her eyebrow. 'I felt the blood drip down my face,' Ms Morgan said in her statement, adding that the incident had left her with anxiety and made her feel unable to go out at night.
She also noted that the injury would affect her work as a dance teacher, and she required medical treatment after the assault. During the proceedings, Pickthall was seen wiping away tears while sitting in the dock.
Legal Proceedings and Defence Arguments
Ms Onuchukwu, defending Pickthall, argued that the assault was a 'split-second decision' made 'out of frustration' at an ex-partner, and that her client had not intended to hurt Ms Morgan. The lawyer also pointed out a discrepancy in the prosecution's case, noting that they had referred to the cup as a 'glass', despite it being made of plastic.
Pickthall, a British citizen, was arrested while boarding a plane to Dubai, as revealed in court. She has a musical background, having featured on rapper Professor Green’s 2019 song Bad Decisions and performing with grime artist and presenter Big Narstie on a 2020 track titled Catch 22.
Sentencing and Consequences
Pickthall was sentenced to a community order with a curfew requiring her to be at home in the UK between 9pm and 6am for four weeks. Additionally, she was ordered to pay £600 in compensation to the victim. This case highlights the serious repercussions of violent acts in public venues, with the court emphasizing the unprovoked nature of the attack and its impact on the victim's well-being and livelihood.
