A former X Factor star is reportedly wanted by the police, who have issued a warrant for her arrest following a drugs charge.
In 2008, Rachel Hylton appeared on the fifth series of The X Factor, singing Amy Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good in her first audition for judges Louis Walsh, Cheryl, Dannii Minogue and Simon Cowell.
Hylton, who was 26 at the time of her first audition, made it through and was placed in the over 25s category with her mentor Dannii. She stayed in the competition up until the seventh live show, when she was eliminated.
It’s been reported that on Tuesday October 29, Hylton was due to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court, but she didn’t show up to the court date.
The Daily Mail reported that the 42-year-old didn’t explain why she wasn’t there, with prosecutor Jeremy King telling the court: ‘She signed the charge sheet to appear today and nothing has been heard.’
The singer was allegedly charged with possessing cannabis resin at Crawley Police Station on October 13.
The Home Office categorises cannabis resin as a Class B drug, outlining: ‘The classification of drugs, in Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, is based on the harm they may cause.’
They state: ‘Class B (an intermediate category) includes amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis and cannabis resin.’
Following Hylton’s absence from court, it was reported that the warrant for her arrest was issued without bail.
At her first X Factor audition, following her performance, she admitted to the judges that she felt as though she ‘flopped’, before they showered her with praise for her vocals.
‘That was outstanding,’ Cheryl told her at the time, while Louis said: ‘Rachel you’ve definitely got a talent. It’s a bit of a rough diamond, but you’ve definitely got something.’
Simon stated: ‘Rachel, I have to say something to you. You’re very nervous, but I absolutely love you. I love this girl. I think you’re fantastic. I think you are a total breath of fresh air.’
In the seventh live show of the competition, Rachel ended up in the bottom two alongside JLS, who ended up being saved and went on to achieve second place behind the winner Alexandra Burke.
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Metro.co.uk has contacted Sussex Police and Crawley Magistrates’ Court for comment.