Naomi Campbell's big escape

Monday, 23 June 2008

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has escaped jail after pleading guilty to assaulting two police officers at London's Heathrow Airport in April.

The catwalk beauty was sentenced to 200 hours community service and fined £2,250 at a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court, in west London on Friday.

Campbell was arrested onboard a Los Angeles-bound plane following a dispute over her luggage, which was lost in the airport's recent Terminal 5 baggage handling fiasco.

The 38-year-old admitted three counts of assault, one count of disorderly conduct and two counts of threatening behaviour towards cabin crew.

Speaking outside the court her spokesman Alan Edwards insisted the sentence was fair - as Campbell deeply regrets her conduct.

He says: "She was concerned about her actions towards the police officers. She has issued a genuine and unequivocal apology to the officers involved.

"She has been sentenced objectively and impartially. Her future is now up to her."

Naomi Campbell at court (WENN image)

Campbell has no remorse for the outburst she aimed at British Airways' cabin crew.

Speaking to Sky News after the court case, Campbell says: "As for British Airways, I don't apologise. I just think they're disgusting because there are people still waiting for their luggage.

"I have travelled with them for many years and I just think they have been harsh."

The model accused the pilot and arresting officers of being racist, reportedly telling them, "You wouldn't be doing this if I was white" as she was escorted off the jet, magistrates heard in court on Friday.

And Campbell still believes she was targeted because she is black, telling the press how she was allegedly racially abused by BA staff on the plane.

She says: "I was called a racial name on that flight and that was part of my reaction - again, nothing to do with the police, but yes, from British Airways.

"I was called a 'gollywog supermodel'. I don't think that's really fair - do you?"

Naomi Campbell (WENN image)

However, BA executives refute the model's claims. A statement released by the airline after the court case reads, "BA does not accept any allegations of racism. We are proud of our diversity.

"We have strict policies concerning dignity at work and have long-standing training programmes on diversity and inclusion."

Do you love Celebrities? Join our Celebrity forum >

Image credit: WENN
(c) 2008 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD.