Outside court, Mr Breitbart said his client had been "very anxious to get this over".

Supermodel in court on assault charge - Jan 16 2007
Supermodel Naomi Campbell will appear in court in New York today over allegations she threw a mobile phone at her housekeeper’s head.

Prosecutors have been trying to agree on a plea bargain with her lawyer over the second degree assault charge, which the catwalk star has denied.

After she last appeared in court, in November, her defence lawyer David Breitbart indicated that she could accept a community service punishment, but was not keen on sweeping the streets like Boy George was ordered to.

The task had to be something "palatable" such as fund-raising for cancer or Aids research where she would not be mobbed by media, Mr Breitbart told reporters.

Naomi, 36, was arrested in March after her maid, Ana Scolavino, claimed she threw a mobile phone at her after accusing her of stealing the jeans she wanted to wear to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s TV show.

Police said Mrs Scolavino needed four stitches after the alleged attack.

The model could face up to seven years in prison and deportation if she is convicted.

When former Culture Club singer Boy George turned up for litter-picking duties with New York’s Sanitation Department earlier this year he was trailed by a huge press pack.

He was handed the sentence after pleading guilty to falsely reporting a burglary at his apartment in the city.

But his lawyer’s earlier suggestion that he spend the time at an Aids charity doing tasks like holding a fashion and makeup workshop was ridiculed by the judge.

Supermodel Naomi due in court - Nov 15 2006
Naomi Campbell must show up in court today or face arrest over allegations that she threw a mobile phone at her housekeeper’s head.

The British supermodel failed to attend a hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in September.

Judge James Gibbons said then that if she did not appear today, a warrant for her arrest would take effect.

Naomi’s lawyer, David Breitbart, said the Streatham-born celebrity would definitely be there.

He has been considering a plea bargain offered by prosecutors but would not give details on what he expected to happen at the hearing today.

But he added that he expected it to be brief.

Naomi, 36, denies second degree assault and could face up to seven years in prison and deportation if she is convicted.

The model was arrested in March after her maid, Ana Scolavino, claimed she threw a mobile phone at her after accusing her of stealing the jeans she wanted to wear to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s TV show.

Police said Scolavino needed four stitches after the alleged attack.

In a statement after her arrest, the model said the claim that she hit or injured the woman was "completely untrue".

Model Naomi released on bail - Oct 26 2006
Supermodel Naomi Campbell was released on police bail in the early hours of this morning after being questioned over an allegation of assault.

She was taken to a central London police station after a woman alleged she had been assaulted at an address in Westminster.

Shortly after 1am the model was bailed to attend a London police station on a date in October.

Officers attended the address in Westminster and arrested a 36-year-old woman at 1.20pm yesterday and took her for questioning at a central London police station.

A spokesman for the supermodel said last night he believed there had been a "misunderstanding".