09:55 10 December 2013
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos following a newspaper sting where she allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover journalist.
CPS London chief Crown prosecutor Baljit Ubhey said: "This charge relates to an investigation by the Sun newspaper between early March 2013 and May 23 2013 which resulted in the supply of Class A drugs to an investigative journalist.”
"This decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the code for Crown prosecutors.
"We have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest."
The former N-Dubz singer is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 19.
She was officially dropped by X Factor before her arrest on June 04 with Sharon Osborne replacing her on the judges’ table.
Ubhey added: "This defendant is now the subject of criminal proceedings and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."