Campbell admits assaulting officers

A court heard the 38-year-old screamed foul-mouthed abuse at the captain of a British Airways flight after being told one of her bags had gone missing during the luggage problems at the newly-opened Terminal 5 in April.

Campbell ordered the captain to get off the plane and look for her suitcase, holding up the flight bound for Los Angeles for almost an hour.

When cabin crew eventually called police to remove her she refused to get off the plane and accused them of targeting her because she was black.

The model pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer, one count of disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and using threatening, abusive words or behaviour to cabin crew.

Campbell admitted the charges when she appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in west London.

Melanie Parrish, prosecuting, told the court that Campbell was a first class passenger on the BA flight on April 3 this year and cabin crew said initially she was very friendly and professional.

She said that Captain Miles Sutherland had been advised that not all the baggage had been loaded due to the teething problems at the new terminal.

The court heard he made a routine check with the passengers on board the flight telling passengers there may be a slight delay because of the baggage problems. Miss Parrish said: "Miss Campbell, having heard this, approached the cabin crew and asked them to make inquiries about the state of her baggage.

The court was told Campbell became upset and demanded to know where her bag was and started using her mobile phone. Meanwhile the captain began to go through her options with her. Miss Parrish said: "To say that this process was difficult would be something of an understatement. Miss Campbell made no attempt to listen to him and talked over him, stating: 'I don't want to hear'."