Cameron Diaz prevents sale of topless photos

A judge in the US barred a photographer from selling topless photographs of actress Cameron Diaz taken in 1992.

California Superior Court Judge Alan Haber yesterday granted a permanent injunction against sale of the photos and also banned photographer John Rutter from either possessing or publicising them.

Rutter, 41, faces a criminal trial on charges that he tried to extort $3.3m (€2.8m) from the Charlie’s Angels actress by threatening to sell the pictures to a group in Europe.

Rutter’s apartment was raided and authorities seized the photos, which are being kept in a safe deposit box.

Rutter faces a December 8 arraignment on felony charges of attempted extortion, attempted grand theft, forgery and perjury.

Rutter’s lawyer, Ron Richards, argued that Diaz voluntarily had the photos taken and that his client had a signed release and the right to sell the pictures. Prosecutors allege he forged the actress’s signature on the form.