‘I was deceived’: Campbell appeals against charity ban

Supermodel Naomi Campbell told a tribunal yesterday that “I’m here because I have been deceived”, in her evidence at an appeal hearing to overturn a charity ban against her.

- STANLEY MURPHY-JOHNS PA

She also asked for questions to be “respectful” during the opening exchanges at the central London tribunal, as she bid to get the ban overturned.

The 56-year-old was disqualified from being a charity trustee for five years in 2024 after the Charity Commission - which regulates charities in England and Wales - found serious mismanagement of funds at the charity she founded, Fashion For Relief.

This included using charity funds to pay for her stay at a five-star hotel in Cannes, France, as well as spa treatments, cigarettes and room service.

Campbell was one of three of the charity's trustees to be disqualified as a result of the investigation. Bianka Hellmich was disqualified for nine years, and Veronica Chou for four years.

During her evidence, Campbell said her "only mistake" was trusting Hellmich, who she alleges forged her signature and lied about her credentials as a charity lawyer.

The tribunal has previously heard claims from Campbell's legal team that from 2016 to 2021, Hellmich appeared to have been paid in excess of £500,000 from charity funds.