Woman denies obstructing police when Wretch 32's father was Tasered

Claire Stephens, 53, of Bromley Road, Tottenham, appeared at Highbury Magistrates’ Court for a plea hearing on Friday morning.

She pleaded not guilty to a charge of wilfully obstructing police officer DC Latham, a person assisting a constable in the execution of their duty, at her home on April 21.

Stephens also denied a like charge relating to another officer, DS Coffey, and faces trial at the same court on January 25 next year.

The court heard police had been attending the Bromley Road house in order to carry out the arrest of a member of Stephens’s family.

Screen grab from Wretch 32's video as police raid his home. Photo: PA

It is alleged she prevented officers entering through the door to the house and spoke to someone over the phone about the arrest when told not to by police.

Scotland Yard previously said a 22-year-old man found in the house was arrested and charged with encouraging another to commit an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007.

Jude Lanchin, representing Stephens, told the court that “a man was Tasered inside the house” during the incident, highlighting the press attention it had received.

Rapper Wretch 32 next to his father at a demonstration outside Tottenham Police Station. Photo: PA

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In June, Wretch 32, whose real name is Jermaine Scott, shared a video on Twitter of his 62-year-old father being Tasered at the Bromley Road property during the April incident.

The 36-second clip posted to the 35-year-old musician’s Twitter account, which has since been viewed 1.7 million times, showed Millard Scott, who was not arrested, tumbling downstairs.

In July, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it would not be investigating the incident and that the matter should be dealt with within the Metropolitan Police.

Scotland Yard said that no further action was being taken as there is no public complaint and no indication of misconduct.