London court sentences Naomi Campbell to 200 hours of community service.
The British supermodel faced up to six months in prison and a fine of $9,800 for the assaults, but the Court in west London imposed a community service sentence, under a 12-month order.
By John Lester
Jun 23, 2008 14:10 PM GMT
A London court sentenced Naomi Campbell to 200 hours of community service on Friday after the British supermodel pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers during an incident that involved "air rage" in April. The 38-year-old had faced up to six months in prison and a fine of $9,800 for the assaults, but Uxbridge Magistrate's Court in west London imposed a community service sentence, which involves unpaid work, under a 12-month order. Wearing a dark suit and sunglasses, Campbell was escorted by her minders through a large scrum of reporters and photographers waiting outside the court building. The court heard how Campbell swore and screamed abuse at the captain of the Los Angeles-bound British Airways flight when she learned one of her bags had gone missing. In April, the airline was beset by problems with check-in and baggage handling systems at the newly opened 4.3 billion pound ($8.6 billion) Terminal 5. Hundreds of flights were canceled and tens of thousands of suitcases went missing. Prosecutors said Campbell ordered the captain to find her missing luggage and became violent when police tried to escort her off the aircraft. The model pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers and to a public order offense.
In addition to the community service, Campbell was ordered to pay payment of 200 pounds ($394) to one of the police officers, 150 pounds to the captain and another 2,300 pounds in fines.Earlier Campbell's spokesman, Alan Edwards, said outside court that she conceded the incident had been "regrettable." Shortly after the incident, Campbell had been banned from flying on British Airways due to her behavior.
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