Busta out of jail

Call him Trev and he'll appreciate it

Busta Rhymes has been busted out of jail but legally, you’ll be glad to hear, after a judge ordered his immediate release.

The 36-year-old rapper was detained at London's City Airport after being refused entry to the UK because of 'unresolved convictions' in the US.

Rhymes was in Blighty to perform at a charity gig but immigration officers tried to put him on an immediate flight on to Amsterdam. His lawyers stepped in, the judge blocked the immigration officers' attempts to move him on and he was allowed into the UK.

Real name Trevor George Smith Jr, he was held in a 7ft by 8ft room, according to the BBC, and under the surveillance of five armed police officers. Yes, rappers do have a bad reputation down London City Airport way, it seems.

Rhymes is staying at a London hotel until he plays at Orange RockCorps in front of 5,000 people at the normally toffee-nosed Royal Albert Hall. Fans got the tickets by volunteering for community work.

Although Trev had worked in the UK before and he had the relevant work permit, immigration officers reckoned his offences of assault and drink driving of which he had been convicted in the US were felonies.

His lawyers argued successfully they were misdemeanours.

And so he doesn’t need to face the rap, so to speak.

share this story: