Naomi Campbell pleads guilty

Jan 17, 2007, 12:00 GMT

Naomi Campbell leaves a court hearing in New York, on Wednesday 16 January 2007. Campbell plead guilty to assault charges for throwing a cell phone at her housekeeper. Campbell will do 5 days community service EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

Naomi Campbell has pleaded guilty to assaulting her maid, Ana Scolavino.

The supermodel was sentenced to five days community service, two days of anger management courses, and was ordered to pay Scolavino's $362.32 medical bill.

Naomi said in a statement: "I threw a cell phone in the apartment. The cell phone hit Ana.

"This was an accident. I did not intend to hit her. I am advised that Ana was hurt and I am deeply sorry about that."

Her lawyer, David Breitbart, begged the New York court not to give her the same punishment as 80s pop singer Boy George who was hounded by paparazzi as he swept the streets as part of a community service sentence.

New York Probation Service worker, Jack Ryan, told Britain's Sun newspaper: "This counts as punishment so Naomi won't get a choice what she does. She won't be given a task she enjoys. If she is sent to work in a hospital cleaning, she will be doing everything the usual cleaners do. There will be no special treatment."

Naomi was charged with wreckless assault in the third degree for throwing a crystal-studded BlackBerry at her maid last March after accusing her of stealing a pair of jeans.

The 36-year-old originally denied the allegations and Breitbart tried to negotiate a deal with the Manhattan D.A.'s office last November, but without success.

She must complete her sentence by May 21 this year.

Naomi has a history of violence and was arrested last November for allegedly scratching her drugs counsellor's face.

The scratching incident was the model's ninth alleged assault in eight years.

In 1998, Naomi's assistant sued the model for threatening to throw her from a car. The catwalk beauty admitted the offence and underwent treatment for anger management.

Since then the supermodel has been accused of assaulting several staff, including one woman who claims she was held hostage and beaten.

(C) BANG Media International