Sam Worthington arrested

Avatar star Sam Worthington has been arrested and charged with assault for allegedly punching a photographer in New York City.

The Australian actor is accused of becoming involved in a bust-up outside a Greenwich Village bar Sunday afternoon (23Feb14), after a paparazzo allegedly kicked his model girlfriend Lara Bingle.

New York Police Department Lieutenant John Grimpel says, "The photographer kicked Lara and then Worthington punched him causing the photographer to have lacerations to his nose. He has been charged with assault. He punched the photographer."

Worthington was taken into custody but later released on bail, and will have to appear in court at a later date.

The snapper was also arrested and charged with assault, reckless endangerment and harassment.

This isn't the first time Worthington has had a run-in with the police - in 2012, the actor was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia for disorderly conduct following a bust-up with a bouncer outside a nightclub. The charge against Worthington was subsequently dropped.