FORMER X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos has been found guilty of assaulting a blogger at the V Festival in Chelmsford.

The singer hit blogger Savvas Morgan during an altercation at the festival at Hylands Park last August.

Contostavlos, 26, was ordered to pay a total of £3,020 following the verdict, which consisted of a £2,700 contribution towards the cost of the prosecution, a £200 fine, £100 compensation to Mr Morgan and a £20 victim surcharge.

She appeared to mutter "this is bulls***" as she walked out of the courtroom.

Contostavlos, who wore a blue suit, white shirt and nude stilettos, shook her head and smiled in disbelief as the guilty verdict was read out. She said she will appeal the decision.

Reading a statement outside Stratford Magistrates' Court in east London, Contostavlos said: "There are a number of high-profile witnesses who were there and know what happened. I urge them to come forward and tell the truth at the appeal.

"I am determined to clear my name as I have already done once this week. I repeat - I did not assault Vas J Morgan. I am innocent.”

Contostavlos was accused of assault alongside her assistant Gareth Varey, 28. He was accused of threatening behaviour but was cleared of the charge.

The verdict was returned on the trials fifth day after twice being adjourned in previous weeks at Chelmsford Magistrates Court.

District Judge Angus Hamilton told the court on Friday: "I am quite sure to the requisite standard of proof, based on my analysis of the evidence that I have heard, that Ms Contostavlos did strike Mr Morgan in the face during an argument and that that blow caused minor bruising and swelling."

Earlier last week, a trial against Contostavlos was halted at Southwark Crown Court after the judge said there were "strong grounds to believe" that undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood - known as the "fake sheikh" - had "lied" at an earlier hearing.

Contostavlos had vehemently denied brokering a drugs deal, which had been reported in The Sun on Sunday last year.

Mahmood has been suspended by the paper.