Topless Diaz snapper jailed

The man who attempted to extort $3.5 million from Hollywood filmstar Cameron Diaz using topless pictures he claimed he had taken of her, has been give

15:41 16 September 2005

The man who attempted to extort $3.5 million from Hollywood filmstar Cameron Diaz using topless pictures he claimed he had taken of her, has been given a three and a half year jail sentence.

John Rutter, 42, was convicted of forgery, attempted grand theft and perjury at Los Angeles superior court.

The photographer took the photos of the Charlie's Angels actress before she was famous in 1992, when she was just 19.

He approached her 11 years later, after she had become a star, and tried to sell the revealing pictures back to her.

Rutter claimed the incident was a "misunderstanding" and that he was actually giving Diaz the "right of first refusal" on the photos.

He also produced a model release form for the shots, which he claimed the actress had signed.

Diaz's insistence that she had not signed a release form was vindicated by expert witnesses who said the form was a forgery, with the signature copied from one of the actress' autographed press shots.

Superior court judge Michael Pastor said: "Mr Rutter did take advantage of a position of confidence that Miss Diaz had in Mr Rutter."

He added that the photographer had shown "definite criminal sophistication" and had exhibited no signs of remorse.

Diaz refused to comment on the court's decision.

She is due to come to the UK soon with partner Justin Timberlake, where she is to work on a new film and he is performing in a play with fellow US star Kevin Spacey.