Winehouse husband loses appeal over jail sentence

LONDON -- A British court on Monday rejected an appeal by the husband of singer Amy Winehouse against his sentence for assault and obstructing justice.

Blake Fielder-Civil was sentenced in July to 27 months in prison for beating up pub manager James King and then offering him a bribe to keep quiet about it. Fielder-Civil, who had spent nine months in jail awaiting trial, was released earlier this month on condition he live at a drug rehabilitation center.

Two Court of Appeal judges turned down an appeal against the sentence. Judge Christopher Pitchford encouraged Fielder-Civil to continue his drug treatment, saying it was only if "these attempts are successful that he has a worthwhile future."

Fielder-Civil, 26, said after the hearing that he was "disappointed but not really surprised."

Winehouse and Fielder-Civil married in Miami in May 2007, but he was arrested six months later.

Winehouse, 25, has become an international star since she released the Grammy-winning album "Back to Black" in 2006. But her music has been overshadowed by reports of drug use, run-ins with the law and her tempestuous marriage.