12:52PM, Sat Sep 15, 2012

X Factor Contestant Accused Of Stealing Bandmate's Car

By Hugh Macknight Location: South Shields

Photo from Paige Flaherty's Myspace account

A former X Factor contestant has appeared in court accused of stealing a bandmate’s car before knocking over a pedestrian.

Paige Flaherty, who appeared on the show last year as a member of girl band 'Twisted', is said to have taken the pink Mini, which belonged to bandmate Katie Orrock, from outside a house in Jarrow, South Tyneside, in August last year.

The 18-year-old, of Fife Avenue, Jarrow, then allegedly drove to Newcastle where she collided with a man at a pelican crossing in Westmorland Road, South Shields.

Flaherty denied charges of car theft and driving without insurance at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

The case was listed to be transferred to Newcastle Crown Court.

Flaherty was granted unconditional bail until then.

Jeanette Smith, prosecuting, told the court that the victim said the person who collided with the pedestrian – leaving him with bruises – gave him false details after the accident.

The victim claimed he knew it was Flaherty after he saw her on the TV talent show.

The teenager's band 'Twisted' hit the headlines after the X-Factor judge Kelly Rowland told band member Chrissie Pitt, from South Shields, to ditch the rest of the band and continue as a solo artist.

Miss Pitt chose to leave the girl group, leaving the other members, including Cheryl Moody, Flaherty and Miss Orrock, furious and out of the competition.

Earlier this year, the threesome came back as 'KISSABEAT', covering 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.