After fashion failure Lily Allen faces arrest

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Pop star Lily Allen is being investigated by police for an alleged violent assault on a photographer.

The 22-year-old daughter of actor Keith Allen faces arrest after being accused of punching a man in the face in an unprovoked attack.

It is claimed the incident left Kevin Rush with a bleeding and bruised nose after Allen's gold sovereign ring cut into his face, leaving an imprint.

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Take that: Lily Allen in kung fu mode on the night of the alleged incident

Detectives are now planning to quiz her about the incident, said to have happened after she left a private party at a nightclub.

The police probe is set to heap further embarrassment on the singer and the high street chain which launhced her new fashion range yesterday.

Lily Allen leaving a London studio wearing one of the gown's from her New Look collection which has been met with a lukewarm response from the public

The store New Look has already had to leap to her defence once this week after her Lily Loves collection met with a distinctly lukewarm response.

Unlike her fashion rival Kate Moss - who designed a range for Topshop - there were no throngs of expectant shoppers waiting as the collection was launched yesterday.

Instead, a dribble of customers filtered into the store in London's Oxford Street, where Allen's face and clothes are advertised on giant billboards.

Happy snapper: Lily grapples with a photographer

Now in another blow to the singer, she has been given a week to report to a police station or face arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm. The charge can mean a prison sentence of up to five years.

The incident took place in March after Allen left a party she was hosting at The Wardour club in London.

As she walked to the nearby Groucho club - a favourite haunt of her father's - she suddenly turned on Mr Rush, who was standing among a group of photographers.

She is alleged to have lunged forward and hit him in the face, leaving him reeling.

Mr Rush, 47, said yesterday: "She hit me even though I had put my camera down. I turned to the right and she hit me in the face.

"She was saying to us beforehand: 'You all want me to do something, don't you?' and she attacked me after that.

"My nose was bleeding but I didn't realise until someone pointed it out. I was just so stunned, I could not believe it.

"I could not understand why she thought she should be allowed to do that. If I had punched someone I would be in trouble so why shouldn't a celebrity?"

Mr Rush, of Suffolk, called police after the incident but Allen had already disappeared with her boyfriend Seb Chew.

Police have now sent a letter to Lily Allen's home address demanding she attend the local police station to be quizzed about the allegations.

If she does not respond within a week, she could be arrested at home.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Inquiries are still continuing."

The alleged assault is not the first of its kind. Allen was happy to smile and pose for photographers when the Brits awards took place earlier this year - but when she missed out on a top prize, she took off her stiletto and attacked a photographer as she left empty-handed.

Yesterday New Look insisted her contract would be unaffected by the police investigation.

A spokeswoman said: "We had a one-off contract. She does not permanently work for New Look but was involved in a one-off collaboration which we are delighted with."

 

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