A man has been charged with assault and sectioned under the mental health act after punching Leona Lewis at a book shop in London.

Peter Kopwalczyk, 29, is alleged to have struck the former X Factor winner as she signed copies of her new autobiography, Dreams.

He is due to appear in City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on October 26, police said.

Reports on Friday claimed Kopwalczyk was a former X Factor reject and launched the attack because he was jealous of Lewis' success.

According to The Sun newspaper, the 29-year-old lives alone in South London and is only visited by his parents.

Meanwhile, Lewis is understood to be recovering from the trauma with her family in East London.

The singer pulled out of a one-day trip to Germany on Thursday to promote her new book and forthcoming album, which is out next month.

(by Jason Gregory)