The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Dawn Ward has been cleared of all charges after her 2019 arrest – and she sobbed as the verdict was read out in court.
Dawn, 48, had denied two counts of racially aggravated harassment, one count of assault and possession of cocaine after she was arrested in October 2019 at London Euston.
The former ITV reality star, who is married to former footballer Ashley Ward, was accused of using anti-Semitic language during an exchange with Jewish brothers Jake and Sam Jacobs at the station.
It was alleged she slapped Jake, and was found to have a small bag of cocaine in a cigarette packet.
Dawn had denied all charges and said that she did not know the cocaine was in the cigarette packet, claiming the cigs were left over from a party at her house.
(Image: Instagram)
During the trial, Dawn – who quit The Real Housewives of Cheshire before the 13th series – said she had been accused of “hiding her racism” by allowing her daughter Taylor to have a child with and get married to Manchester City player Riyad Mahrez.
Giving evidence earlier this week, she said: “I don’t see anyone’s race, religion or anything like that. I see people as people.”
Her barrister Lisa Judge suggested the group had made up the allegations for “publicity” and had been insulting Ward about her “Botox face and wealth”.
Giving evidence, Jake Jacobs responded: “I didn’t know who she was. I can tell you Mrs Ward was very very drunk. I didn’t see any Botox, I certainly didn’t see any wealth.”
(Image: Instagram)
“I don’t even know what Botox does. I thought it was to do with wrinkles. How can Botox go wrong?”
During the defence case, Ward told jurors: “Jake Jacobs was raising his voice to the lady at customer service.
“I stupidly poked my nose in and said something along the lines of ‘Bloody hell leave her alone it’s not her fault, we are all in the same boat’.
“I should have just kept my nose out. Honestly I wouldn’t have a clue what religion he was. It didn’t even enter my mind. He was saying about my Botox face and throwing insults.
“He was referring to things about the show saying ‘You think you are it’. He said ‘What gives you the right to tell me what to do, who do you think you are? You are there on the show with your Botox face’, and he mentioned my wealth.”
(Image: Instagram)
Jake Jacobs also accused her of slapping him in the face with an “open palm” during the incident.
But during her evidence, the reality star made a patting gesture to the bottom of her jaw to indicate how she had touched Jake Jacobs and said she told him: “At least I’m going home first class”.
The reality star also told jurors she had “no idea” there was cocaine in her cigarette packet – claiming the box had been put in her handbag by her housekeeper.
She said: “I do a lot of charity events at the house, a lot of parties throughout the year. When the parties have finished. when my housekeepers clean up they put all the cigarettes and stuff them in oven gloves.
(Image: Instagram)
“I would only ever have a cigarette if I was going to London. That’s when I would possibly have a cigarette with a glass of wine. I actually didn’t have one that day.
“When I was leaving my house I said can you chuck us a packet of cigarettes out the drawer.”
The reality star cried as the verdict was announced and said to the jury: “Thank you. Thank you so much, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Speaking outside court, Ward said she was “over the moon and relieved” at the verdicts.
(Image: Instagram)
She said: “It’s been three years of absolute hell. My husband has been a massive support. My legal team Lisa Judge and Mark Haslam have been incredible.
“I chose to bring it to the crown court because I was so frightened at the severity of the charge. I was very worried as it was such a serious allegation.
“I’m eternally grateful to the jury that after a week of hearing everything I felt they were so fair. We were so lucky to get a jury that thought I was telling the truth.
“I now want to go home and be with my children and get on with the rest of my life.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
