Woman charged with break-in at Cowell's house

[March 26, 2012]  LONDON (AP) -- Police say a 29-year-old woman has been charged with breaking into the house of entertainment mogul Simon Cowell.

Leanne Zaloumis is due to appear in a London court Monday on a charge of aggravated burglary.

Police say the alleged break-in occurred at Cowell's London home at around 10:30 p.m. (21:30 GMT, 5:30 p.m. EDT) Saturday.

Cowell's spokesman, Max Clifford, said the "X Factor" svengali had been watching TV when he heard a crashing noise and found a woman who had smashed through a window and was clutching a brick.

He said Cowell's security team detained the woman until police arrived.

Clifford said Cowell "was shaken up" and had described the scene as "just like something out of a horror movie."

[Associated Press]

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