Happy Mondays Bez loses assault appeal

Former Happy Mondays dancer Bez has lost his appeal against a conviction for assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

The star was jailed for four weeks in August for attacking Monica Ward, and has failed to have the ruling overturned. He was ordered to pay £500 of court costs.

The BBC reports that Bez said from the dock: "It's a joke. I'm going to take this to a higher court. I'm not paying nothing. What a stitch-up."

His solicitor Peter Eatherall read a statement from Bez outside court which said: "I am disappointed at the appeal ruling and have undertaken this appeal to clear my name, nothing more."

Eatherall added: "Bez is Bez, there is nothing behind the curtain, that is how he is and what he is. But he is not a violent man."

Bez's legal costs will be paid by the taxpayer because he is unemployed and therefore entitled to legal aid.