Naomi Campbell blames lawyer for 'fraud and deception' at charity ban appeal

14 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Tiffany WertheimerCulture reporter PA Media Naomi Campbell arrives at court in central London to give evidence in an effort to overturn her charity ban Naomi Campbell has said that "identity fraud and deception" by a fellow trustee of her former charity was to blame for a serious misuse of funds. Speaking at an appeal hearing to overturn a charity ban against her, Campbell alleged that co-trustee and lawyer, Bianka Hellmich, forged her signature and impersonated her using a fake email address to misdirect money that was intended for the charity, Fashion for Relief. Her "only mistake" was trusting Hellmich, Campbell told the tribunal on Tuesday. In 2024, Campbell was banned from running a charity for five years after a UK watchdog found widespread evidence of financial misconduct. She has always denied any wrongdoing. Bianka Hellmich, who has previously told the Guardian there is "absolutely no truth to the allegations", was banned for nine years and a third trustee, Veronica Chou, was disqualified for four years. The watchdog found that hundreds of thousands of pounds that should have gone to the charity was instead used on luxury hotels, spa treatments, cigarettes and security for the supermodel. In written submissions, Campbell's lawyer, Andrew Westwood KC alleged that Hellmich "carried out a long-term and consistent scheme of mismanagement and deception in relation to the running of the charity" which she concealed from others. The tribunal heard that both Campbell's legal team and The Charity Commission have referred the forgery and fraud allegations to the police. The Commission confirmed this to the BBC and clarified that no individual had been reported, but rather a report was made on allegations of fraud and providing false or misleading information to the Commission. The BBC has tried to contact Hellmich for comment. It is unclear if she is still working as a lawyer. Benett/Dave Benett/ Bianka Hellmich, pictured in 2019 Fashion for Relief was set up with the aim to unite the fashion industry to relieve poverty and advance health and education, . It was first launched in the US, Campbell said on Tuesday, and did not "have a problem" until it was registered as a charity in the UK. In March 2024, Fashion for Relief was dissolved and removed from the register of charities. Campbell told the tribunal that she "loved" the charity work. "I'm already famous enough", she said, when it was suggested that she did it "for PR".