Leona Lewis punched at book signing

X Factor winner in tears after being attacked in London

Leona Lewis was punched in the face in London yesterday while attending a book signing.

The X Factor winner was left in tears and needed treatment for cuts after the assault, which took place in full view of hundreds of fans.

The man who carried out the attack, now in police custody charged with actual bodily harm, apparently waited patiently in line to have his copy of Leona's book, Dreams, signed, but lashed out when he got within reach of the singer.

'My brother saw the whole incident,' a source told the BBC.

'He [the attacker] walked up there with the book, she signed it and, as she looked up, he just punched her.'

Another witness reports: 'I heard Leona cry out in pain and she was quickly led off by her security as more security guards and fans restrained the man until police arrived.

'She had sunglasses on and even though she had her face in her hands you could see she was clearly crying and her face was swollen.

'The worst thing is that the man was grinning - he thought it was funny.'

A spokesperson for Leona, who was taken to a private doctor to be treated after the attack, told reporters: 'Leona is absolutely gutted that she did not get the signings finished.

'This guy whacked her one in the face, and she was sitting down and he was standing up, so you couldn't get more cowardly.'

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