NAOMI CAMPBELL was given a warning that a warrant for her arrest would be issued if she did not attend her next court date in New York City after she failed to appear yesterday.

The 36-year-old model was “absolutely obliged” to be at Manhattan Criminal Court on November 15 over accusations that she threw a mobile phone at her housekeeper’s head, Judge James Gibbons said.

“I want to make it clear that she is absolutely obliged to appear at the next hearing,” he said. “If she fails to appear on that court date, the warrant will go into effect.”

Her lawyer, David Breitbart, said Ms Campbell was not able to attend, but did not explain further. He said that his client had not appeared in recent New York or Milan fashion shows, adding that it was not a professional commitment that had kept Ms Campbell away, but refused to comment on whether a health problem was the reason for her absence.

The model was arrested in March after her maid, Ana Scolavino, claimed that she threw a mobile phone — said to be a jewel-encrusted BlackBerry — at her after accusing her of stealing the jeans she wanted to wear to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s television show. Police said Mrs Scolavino needed four stitches after the alleged attack.

Ms Campbell had already denied second degree assault. She could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Times Recommends

• Robert McNamara dies aged 93
• German soldiers earn new ‘Iron Cross’
• Great Barrier Reef 'gone within 20 years'