Spittin' Mad! Scotland Yard Charges Naomi Campbell

Supermodel formally booked on six counts, including assaulting two officers, as a result of last month's airport arrest

By Gina Serpe May 29, 2008 3:49 PMTags
Naomi CampbellAP Photo/Steve Parsons-pa

Naomi Campbell is used to hurling things at others. Now she's getting something thrown back at her: the book.

The arrest-prone supermodel has been formally charged with six counts, including assaulting two police officers, as a result of last month's terminal spit-take at Heathrow Airport.

The 38-year-old was booked on the charges while answering bail at the Heathrow Airport police station at 11:30 this morning. She remained at the station for just a half hour.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, Campbell has been 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 behavior toward cabin crew.

Campbell's attorney, Simon Nicholls, said his client was "bitterly disappointed" to learn that the situation could not be resolved outside of court.

"She respects that decision and she hopes this matter is dealt with expeditiously."

Campbell is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court June 20.

If found guilty, her assault charges carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a fine of up to nearly $10,000, while her disorderly conduct charge could set her back another $5,000. The threat charges have a maximum penalty of $2,000.

The model, decked out in a dark pinstripe suit and donning a requisite pair of shades, avoided speaking to journalists on her way in and out of the police station.

The charges themselves stem from an incident that took place at Heathrow's newly opened and trouble-plagued Terminal 5 on April 3, when a verbal scuffle kicked off between Campbell and British Airways crew members when one of her bags reportedly went missing.

Airport police were called over to suppress the scene, and Campbell unexpectedly expectorated at one of the officers, leading the airline to refuse her service.