Mel B gets restraining order extended

Sydney - Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown Thursday won an extension to a restraining order against a well-known Australian paparazzo ensuring he keeps his distance for at least another five months.

The singer, who is a judge on the popular talent show X Factor Australia and lives for much of the year in Sydney, alleged on 1 November that Jamie Fawcett endangered her life while she was in a kayak on Sydney Harbour.

Waverley Local Court extended a restraining order against the paparazzo, granted earlier this month, on Thursday. Yet, original orders that Fawcett also stay away from Brown's husband Stephen Belafonte, were removed.

Fawcett, who must not come within five metres of Brown or contact her until the matter is heard again on 15 April 2013, said the situation had been blown out of proportion and was bringing him unnecessary costs.

'Intimidating behaviour'

"I'm a professional photographer and that's what I do and I've been doing this for a long while," he said outside the court.

"The issue is to whether a mere act of taking a picture is intimidating behaviour.

"In my view, taking a picture is just part and parcel of being in the business of showbusiness and... for people that spend their lives in front of the camera, that action shouldn't be seen as being wrong."

Brown made her name as "Scary Spice" in the 90s girl-group Spice Girls, which also featured Victoria Beckham, wife of English footballing superstar David Beckham.