Shakin' Stevens guilty of assault

EIGHTIES pop star Shakin' Stevens has been found guilty of assaulting a photographer at one of his concerts.

The singer, real name Michael Barratt, was ordered to pay a £300 fine and £479 in compensation to snapper Hugo McNeice, whose camera lens was smashed in the attack.

Stevens, also known as Shakey, was performing in Ballymena in Northern Ireland in December 2008, when McNeice started taking pictures of him.

McNeice said the singer danced over to him giving him the perfect opportunity to take a "nice tight shot" of him.

But instead, Stevens picked up his microphone stand and pushed it into his camera, leaving McNeice "shocked and embarrassed".

Cardiff-born Stevens' lawyer said the singer was "disappointed" with the hearing and insisted "he is innocent of the charges brought" and is planning to appeal.

Shakin' Stevens was one of the top-selling UK male artists of the Eighties, with hits including Green Door, The Ole House and Oh Julie.