The rapper released his fourth album in November 2008

Rapper Kanye West has been charged with assault, theft and vandalism following an airport fracas with a photographer.

The hip-hop star was arrested at Los Angeles airport days after performing at September's MTV Video Music Awards.

A video shot by the gossip website TMZ appeared to show Mr West, 31, smashing the flash of a photographer's camera while inside the airport terminal.

The rapper, whose road manager was also charged over the event, could face two and a half years in jail if convicted.

The video tape of the 11 September episode appeared to show the road manager Dan Crawley breaking the photographer's camera.

Mr Crawley is accused of two counts of assault, two counts of theft and two counts of vandalism and could face up to five years in prison.

The rapper and his team were waiting to clear security before boarding an early morning flight to Hawaii.

Mr West's lawyer, Blair Berk, had no comment following the charges.

The Grammy award-winning musician and Mr Crawley are set to appear before the judge on 14 April.



