The charge of racially aggravated actual bodily harm has been withdrawn and replaced with a new charge of racially aggravated common assault.

Tweedy could face up to two years in prison if found guilty.

The case was adjourned by magistrates for her to appear again on April 4 and she was remanded on conditional bail.

Girls Aloud star faces race charge - 14/03/03
Surrey Police have confirmed that Geordie Cheryl Tweedy has been charged with racially aggravated assault after the incident in a nightclub....

A spokeswoman at Staines police station said: "A 19-year-old woman has been charged with an offence of racially aggravated actual bodily harm following an incident at a Guildford nightclub on January 11.

"Cheryl Tweedy of Newcastle was charged with the offences when she returned to Staines today on bail."

In a statement, Tweedy said: "I am totally devastated by the charge that has been brought against me.

"I have always maintained that I am entirely innocent of the accusations that have been made, and I am determined to fight to prove my innocence."

Tweedy has been released on bail to appear before South West Surrey Magistrates Court in Guildford on March 25.

Popstars: The End? - 25/02/03 - Courtesy of Heat Magazine
The Girls Aloud and One True Voice tour has been cancelled. The bands were to perform with the other Popstars: The Rivals finalists but organisers pulled the plug citing "lack of interest". A Girls Aloud spokesperson told heat "This doesn’t affect the girls - they’ll do their own tour."

Tweedy attacks - 13/01/03
Geordie Cheryl Tweedy from Girls Aloud has been arrested after an alleged attack in a nightclub.

The Girls Aloud singer is accused of punching law student Sophie Amogbokpa, 39, who was working as a toilet attendant at The Drink in Guildford.

Police held her for 10 hours until she sobered up and could make a statement.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: "A 19-year-old woman was arrested in connection with an allegation of assault in the early hours of Saturday morning."

Ms Amogbokpa was taken to the Royal Surrey Hospital for treatment to an eye injury and has since said that Cheryl made racists comments towards her.

Last night tearful Cheryl said she was "shocked and horrified" by allegations that she had screamed at club worker Sophie Amogbokpa: "You f***ing black bitch. I will deal with you."

Sophie is vowing to press charges after suffering a swollen eye in the brawl, which erupted when Cheryl went to the club’s loos with bandmate Nicola Roberts on Friday night. Trouble started when Sophie demanded they hand over cash for two lollies that they picked up from the side.

Cheryl, one of the five girl winners of ITV1’s Popstars: The Rivals, said: "She called me a bitch so I told her to get lost. "Then she punched me in the face. I hit her back and called her a f***ing bitch."

"I only acted in self defence because I was hit first. I admit I may have called her a bitch in the heat of the moment but I never made any racist comments to her. I am really distraught that people are accusing me of racism, it couldn’t be further from the truth.