Judge helps accused see X Factor

A judge helped a man accused of a stab attack see the X Factor show by varying bail conditions
12 April 2012

A kind-hearted judge varied the bail of a pop fan accused of stabbing a man so that he could see the X Factor results show on Sunday.

Valeri Ivanov, 22, had a ticket for the live show at Wembley but his curfew ended before the show - and he could have been arrested for breaking it.

Car wash worker Ivanov was on trial with two other men at the Old Bailey accused of stabbing another worker six times in a row over who should clean a Porsche in the car park of Sainsbury's in Richmond, west London.

The judge, Recorder Oliver Sells QC, was asked to help as the X Factor fan did not want to miss the excitement of seeing who would be the first person to be eliminated from the show.

A source close to the case said: "The judge had not heard of the X Factor but he allowed the variation for one day because it only involved extending the curfew by two hours."

And Ivanov's luck held out for him again on Wednesday when he and the other defendants were cleared of wounding charges by a jury after medical evidence did not support the complainant's allegations.

He grinned sheepishly when asked if he enjoyed the show - but refused to comment on the advice of his lawyer.

He is thought to have got the ticket by applying online.

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