Naomi admits assaulting police
2008-06-20 13:28
London - British supermodel Naomi Campbell appeared in court on Friday and admitted assaulting two police officers after she was removed from a flight at London's Heathrow airport earlier this year.
The 38-year-old was charged following a row over luggage on a British Airways plane bound for Los Angeles on April 3.
She admitted a total of six charges at a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates Court in west London.
Campbell, wearing dark glasses and a dark suit, was guarded by a minder as she stepped out of a chauffeur-driven car and battled her way to the court building through a scrum of photographers and television cameras.
Inside, she pleaded guilty to three charges of assaulting a constable, one of disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and two of using threatening, abusive words or behaviour to cabin crew.
The assault charge carries a maximum six-month prison sentence and a fine of up to £5 000.
'Regrettable'
Before the hearing, her spokesperson, Alan Edwards, said: "She feels what happened was regrettable and she has come to court today to put her side of the story."
At the time, her spokesperson blamed the incident on the chaos that engulfed Heathrow's new Terminal 5, which descended into chaos within hours of opening, with hundreds of flights cancelled and thousands of bags going astray.
One of Campbell's bags was among them.
Last year Campbell was ordered to spend a week mopping floors at a New York City warehouse for hitting her maid with a mobile phone.
She was sentenced in January 2007 after pleading guilty to reckless assault, and also ordered to attend a two-day anger management course and pay more than $350 to cover her victim's medical expenses.