Zutons Lead Singer Dave McCabe Found Guilty of Assault

The Zutons lead singer Dave McCabe, who broke a man's nose after his girlfriend was insulted, has been found guilty of assault.

The frontman headbutted Peter Appleby during a row outside a nightclub in his hometown of Liverpool, a court heard.

McCabe, who wrote the hit song 'Valerie' -- later covered to huge success by Amy Winehouse -- had denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm and said he had acted in self-defence.

But lawyers told the jury that McCabe initiated the confrontation after overhearing one of Appleby's five friends joke that his girlfriend's fur-collared coat made her look as though she had a beard.

McCabe was released on bail and will be sentenced on Oct. 29.

The BBC reports the court had heard that McCabe had been on a night out with his girlfriend and other friends and family following his mother's 60th birthday party.

The singer had drunk three glasses of wine and five bottles of beer before the assault outside Korova bar on Hope Street.

He was seen on CCTV in the early hours of 21 February headbutting Mr Appleby, who the court was told had sunk six pints of Guinness.

McCabe said a group of five students approached his party as they left the club and insulted his girlfriend about her coat.

McCabe insisted he had approached them to "smooth things over" but then reacted in self-defence as he feared an imminent assault.