X Factor singer accused of attempted murder makes heart sign from dock

An X Factor singer accused of attempting to murder a social media influencer by hitting her with her car made a heart sign to family and friends as she was remanded in custody.

Gabrielle Carrington, 29, allegedly tried to kill Klaudia Zakrzewska, an Instagram influencer, outside the Inca nightclub in Soho, London, at 4.30am on Sunday.

She is accused of dangerous driving, being nearly twice the drink-drive limit, and causing serious injuries to two other people - a third woman and a security guard.

Carrington, who has more than 365,000 followers on Instagram, made it to the X Factor live finals in 2013 as a member of the trio Miss Dynamix.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, the judge ordered that she be held in prison until the next court hearing at the Old Bailey on 19 May.

Footage of the incident shared online shows a woman getting into a black Mercedes before it drives forward, striking Ms Zakrzewska, who goes under the vehicle.

Outlining the allegations, prosecutor Rizwan Amin told the court: "The scene can only be described as lots of people shouting, it could be described as a melee, so to speak.

"Many individuals who were there were from a nearby nightclub including security staff members.

"The full extent of the incident wasn't appreciated at the time officers had attended.

"Further checks of CCTV show that Ms Carrington had arrived in Argyll Street in her car, which was nearby to the Inca nightclub.

"During this time, she seemed to have an altercation with a male as she exited her car.

"This altercation escalated, involving several other members of the public. Security staff tried to intervene to separate those involved. Ms Carrington was then seen to re-enter the vehicle."

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Mr Amin said the vehicle "immediately moved off and sharply mounted the pavement".

He continued: "During this manoeuvre, the vehicle has struck Ms Zakrzewska who was positioned to the front side of the vehicle and she was dragged forwards and dropped between the vehicle and a metal bike rack.

"As the vehicle kept moving forward, it fully took her underneath the vehicle and at the same time had struck a security member of staff, Anoush Chyche, who was on the pavement."

It is said Carrington reversed the car backwards as Ms Zakrzewska emerged from under the vehicle.

"During the manoeuvre, a Ms Latisha Armstrong was also hit by the vehicle and suffered a fractured scaphoid bone in her wrist area," said Mr Amin.

Carrington, of Broadfield Road, Manchester, has been charged with attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, and drink driving.

She did not enter any pleas during the court hearing.

Ms Zakrzewska remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital, the Metropolitan Police said on Monday evening.

Mr Chyche, in his 50s, suffered "life-changing injuries", the force added.

According to the court charges, Carrington had 61 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath when she tested after the incident; the legal limit is 35.

(c) Sky News 2026: X Factor singer accused of attempted murder makes heart sign from dock