Hugh Grant under police investigation after paparazzo assault

26 Apr 2007 

HUGH GRANT is facing charges of assault after the British actor physically abused a photographer outside his London home on Tuesday (24Apr07), before snarling, "I hope your kids die of f**king cancer".

The incident took place on Tuesday morning, when the Music And Lyrics star lashed out at paparazzo Ian Whittaker for taking his picture. Grant is alleged to have hurled a container of baked beans at Whittaker before repeatedly kicking and swearing at him.

Whittaker says, "It looked like he had been out for a morning jog. I asked him if he would give me a smile because he was standing with his head down. But he must have been having a bad day because he started chasing me down the street".

"He was effing and blinding (swearing) at me and then he just started kicking me. He kicked me hard about three or four times and then kneed me in the groin.

"He asked me if I had a girlfriend or any kids and I said I had two. He said, 'I hope they die of f**king cancer'. That really upset me and is why I went to the police to make a complaint of assault against him. He was out of order."

Yesterday a spokesman for the London Metropolitan Police confirmed an investigation was underway, but said, "Inquiries are in hand and there have been no arrests." The actor's publicist refused to comment on the matter.