A former Big Brother contestant who was booted off the show for bullying was worried about giving her address away, a court heard today.

Alexandra De Gale, appearing at Croydon Crown Court, told the jury she was often accosted by members of the public in the street.

She is accused of brandishing a knife at three women on August 23 last year after they teased her about her exit from the Big Brother house.

Joanne Hllier, Raynor Nash and June Maginnis claimed after they joked about her “not being a celebrity” anymore, she ran into her house and came out with a 6in kitchen knife.

The 24-year-old from Croydon said she had received “bad press” and was scared to admit she was living in her house in Allen Road.

She told the court: “Previously someone asked me if I was on Big Brother and I denied it and it was in the papers the next day.

“I did not want to come across as rude.

”I was very sensitive about moving back in.

“My house had been vandalised several times when I was on the show.

“I was desperately trying to move.”

Miss De Gale was kicked off the show after she allegedly threatened other members of the house, saying “pow pow pow”.

She told Judge Pratt, presiding, she still denied what the producers accused her of but said she was not humiliated by her exit.

Such was the reaction to her antics in the house, she was moved to a hotel in Southampton after the show for two weeks, and then put up in a hotel instead of her Allen Road address for another six to eight weeks.

She had only recently moved back into her house when the incident took place.

Miss De Gale told the jury she has been warned people might accost her in the street following the show.

She added: “Since coming off the show people do stop you because they want to know what it is like in the house. You stop and be polite to them and then go away.”

But on this occasion, Miss De Gale admitted she did not go away and instead was riled enough to say “f*ck off” and “you’re a f*cking idiot” to Miss Maginnis.

Miss De Gale, of Allen Road, Croydon, denies one count of carrying an offensive weapon in a public place.

The trial continues.