A FORMER X-Factor contestant is set to stand trial – twice –after denying driving a car with no insurance.
Paige Flaherty appeared on the show two years ago as a member of girl band Twisted.
The 18-year-old is accused of stealing a pink Mini belonging to former bandmate Katie Orrock from outside her home in Jarrow in August 2011.
She allegedly drove to Newcastle and hit a man on a pelican crossing in Westmorland Road, leaving him bruised.
Flaherty, of Fife Road, Jarrow, was charged with two offences – aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent, and driving without insurance.
She has already appeared at Newcastle Crown Court in relation to the first charge, where she entered a not-guilty plea.
A crown court trial, expected to last two-and-a-half days, has been listed for February 25.
The singer was granted bail until then.
Flaherty has now also denied driving without insurance, which is going to be dealt with by magistrates.
Yesterday, her solicitor Kayleigh Helens appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to set a trial date.
Stan Sudworth, prosecuting, said: “This matter cannot be dealt with at the crown court.
“I suggest a separate trial is arranged for a date after the crown court hearing is finished.”
Twisted made news after X-Factor judge Kelly Rowland urged Flaherty’s fellow band member Chrissie Pitt, from South Shields, to ditch her colleagues in order to continue in the contest.
Miss Pitt chose to go solo, leaving the other three members of the group – Cheryl Moody, Flaherty and Miss Orrock – furious and out of the competition.
The trio renamed the band KissaBeat and recorded a cover of Jessie J’s Domino for a competition with Sky’s Starz TV.
The band won the contest, which saw the threesome record their own song, Just Jealousy.
But when the song was released, Flaherty’s vocals were erased from the final version.
Twitter: @ShieldsGazCrime
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