UNITED STATES: Naomi Cambell completes her first day of court ordered community service work for throwing a phone at her maid

Record ID: 187068

  • Title: UNITED STATES: Naomi Cambell completes her first day of court ordered community service work for throwing a phone at her maid
  • Date: 20th March 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English), ALBERT DURRELL, DEPUTY CHIEF AT THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION SAYING: "We have sanitation police officers stationed at each entrance - similar to what we did when we had our - when Boy George was here last year. I mean let's face it, she's a well known person worldwide so we have to make sure that we take safety precautions wherever necessary."
  • Embargoed: 4th April 2007 13:00
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  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA1A19TPBC6M1KY68CGJOETBBKU
  • Story Text: Supermodel Naomi Campbell completes her first day of work at New York City's Department of Sanitation where she mops floors and performs other cleaning duties as part of a court ordered sentence for throwing a cell phone at her maid.
    British model Naomi Campbell walked into a Manhattan garbage depot on Monday (March 19) to begin a five-day stint of mopping floors and cleaning toilets as punishment for assaulting her housekeeper.
    Wearing red-soled stiletto heals and carrying a pair of combat boots tossed over her shoulder, the 36-year old beauty strode past a crowd of television cameras and reporters as she reported for her 8 a.m. shift.
    "She will be sweeping along the garage floor, the interior of the garage floor. She will be sweeping the offices - we have offices inside the building. We also have locker rooms upstairs, bathrooms, she will be sweeping, cleaning, mopping. We have windows that need to be cleaned or that are cleaned often, she'll be doing some of that so we have plenty of work for her to do over the next 5 days," said Albert Durrell, Deputy Chief at the Department of Sanitation.
    Campbell was sentenced to five days community service for throwing a mobile phone at her housekeeper during a dispute over a pair of jeans. She was also fined $363 and ordered to attend anger management classes.
    Her lawyer, David Breitbart, requested that she complete her community service indoors for fear of her security. The judge, Robert Mandelbaum, gave in to the request.
    "We have sanitation police officers stationed at each entrance - similar to what we did when we had our, when Boy George was here last year. I mean let's face it, she's a well known person worldwide so we have to make sure that we take safety precautions wherever necessary."
    The model will work seven hours a day with two breaks at the depot.
    Three other people also reported for community service work at the Sanitation Department on Monday.
    Campbell becomes the second celebrity sentenced to clean up duty in New York. Singer Boy George was ordered to sweep New York streets for five days as punishment for drug possession and falsely reporting a burglary.
    Campbell has been accused by at least three employees of assault. The model has blamed her fiery temper on lingering resentment of her father who abandoned her as a child.
    After putting in first day on the job, Campbell walked out of the depot escorted by a Department of Sanitation security guard. Campbell declined to answer questions shouted out by the waiting media outside as she got into a waiting car at the compound gates.
    After Campbell's departure, reporters asked Durrell is he thought Campbell appeared to enjoy her first day of service.
    "I really can't think for her or whether she enjoyed it or not, I really can't answer that, but I will tell you that she did perform her duties today," said Durrell.
    Campbell will work at the facility through Friday, March 23rd.
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