Sydney  - British hip-hop artist Lady Sovereign spat in the face of a nightclub bouncer just hours after arriving in Australia for a concert tour, a Brisbane court was told Saturday.

The 23-year-old singer, whose real name is Louise Harman, pleaded guilty to assault and disorderly conduct over the Friday night incident at Brisbane's The Beat nightclub.

She was fined and ordered to pay compensation to the bouncer, who had ordered her to leave the nightclub because she was drunk and disorderly.

She was taken into custody and spent the night at a police station. (dpa)