Naomi Campbell in court

Before 2002 Campbell's one brush with the law had come after she allegedly assaulted her assistant with a telephone and threatened to throw her out of a moving Peugeot. In February of that year, however, began a series of legal battles as she sued the Daily Mirror for breach of confidence and unlawful invasion of privacy after it published pictures of her leaving a Narcotics Anonymous meeting
Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

In this court drawing, Campbell testifies as two senior judges apparently position themselves less than a foot away to listen. The man in the blue tie is meant to be Piers Morgan. Whatever happened to him? Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/Press Association

Campbell won her case against the Mirror in March 2002, but the paper successfully appealed against the decision later that year. Here's Naomi in 2004, leaving court after appealing against the Mirror's successful appeal. She won in May Photograph: David Bebber/Reuters

Fast-forward two years to June 2006, and here's Naomi leaving Manhattan criminal court in New York. She has been charged with assault for allegedly hitting her maid with a jewel-encrusted mobile phone. Another of her maids also claims the supermodel hit her Photograph: Peter Foley/Reuters

Campbell leaves court in New York in November 2006 as the mobile phone 'assault' case drags on Photograph: Chip East/Reuters

In January 2007 Campbell pleaded guilty to assaulting her housekeeper with a mobile phone and was sentenced to five days of community service. Here she is being escorted from court by her security team Photograph: Keith Bedford/Reuters

Two months later, here's Campbell arriving at a Department of Sanitation warehouse in New York, eager to begin a week of mopping floors as penance for the assault on her housekeeper. The 60s cap, flared coat and four-inch heels have all gone on to become staple workwear for those in the cleaning industry Photograph: Cau-Guerin/Abaca/Empics Entertainment

Bizarrely, here's Naomi leaving the Department of Sanitation on her final day of community service. This is not believed to be regulation cleaning gear Photograph: Jason DeCrow/AP

Unfortunately, not even a week of community service could keep Campbell out of trouble. Here she is leaving Heathrow airport police station in April 2008 after being arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer before boarding a transatlantic flight. Passengers reported that she was aggressive and abusive to staff Photograph: Carl Court/PA

Campbell dons a suit to answer bail following her April arrest Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

In June 2008 Campbell pleaded guilty to four of five charges against her. The count of assaulting a constable was dropped, but another 200 hours of community service beckoned Photograph: Simon James/WireImage

A composed but 'inconvenienced' Campbell answers questions at the UN-backed special court for Sierra Leone in Leidschendam. She told the court she received a gift of 'dirty-looking stones' after a 1997 dinner hosted by Nelson Mandela Photograph: AFP/Getty Images