Jail threat for supermodel on assault charge

Published on Thursday 29 May 2008 22:04

SUPERMODEL Naomi Campbell faces a possible 18 months in prison after being charged with assaulting two police officers at Heathrow Airport.

The charges relate to an incident last month when she was removed from a flight bound for Los Angeles following an alleged row over luggage.

Campbell, 38, was charged with six offences when she answered bail at Heathrow police station yesterday.

The model is charged with three counts of assaulting a constable, one count of disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and two counts of using threatening, abusive words or behaviour to cabin crew. She is alleged to have assaulted two police officers, one of them twice, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

If found guilty, Campbell could be jailed for up to six months and/or fined up to 5,000 for each count of assaulting a constable.

The supermodel arrived at the police station in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes just after 11:30am wearing a pinstriped dark suit and sunglasses.

After spending half an hour inside being informed of the charges, she was driven away, refusing to answer any questions from waiting reporters.

Her lawyer, Simon Nicholls, read a statement on her behalf. He said: "Miss Campbell is bitterly disappointed that the prosecutors have advised her she is to be prosecuted.

"Prosecutors in this case have decided she needs to be prosecuted in the magistrates' court. She respects that decision and she hopes this matter is dealt with expeditiously."

Campbell will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in west London on 20 June.

The model was flying with British Airways from Heathrow's recently-opened Terminal 5 to the United States for a memorial service on 3 April when she was arrested.

Her spokeswoman said at the time Campbell had already boarded the jet when she was told one of her bags was missing. It was reported that a row ensued and she was handcuffed on board. She was being removed by police officers when the alleged assault took place.

Her spokeswoman blamed the incident on the chaos that engulfed the new terminal. BA has since banned the model from flying with the airline.

The supermodel was among thousands of passengers to have lost their luggage during the disastrous opening two weeks of the new T5 building.