Playboy, paparazzo in stoush over Ridge

Jaime Ridge and Sally Ridge. Photo / Janna Dixon

A late night out drinking for teen model Jaime Ridge and her mother, Sally, led to an ugly bar stoush between a celebrity photographer and a multi-millionaire.

Internet tycoon Seeby Woodhouse claims his shirt was torn to shreds after he tried to stop Richard Simpson photographing the Ridges at a NZ Fashion Week event after-party at the Racket Bar in downtown Auckland.

Woodhouse said he was surprised when the paparazzo's camera flash started going.

He said he tried to cover the front of the lens so the man couldn't take any more photos.

"I put up my hand. I didn't touch the guy or the camera."

Woodhouse said he told the photographer: "That's not cool, it's not the time or the place. I think you should move on."

The man left, but came "flying in" about 15 minutes later.

Woodhouse said he was grabbed by the collar and his shirt was ripped to shreds and made him look like "the Incredible Hulk" in the process.

"It was way out of line."

Woodhouse said he was punched in the cheek and, having been a boxer before, he wouldn't have minded hitting back but the bar's bouncers intervened.

Simpson, who was accredited to Fashion Week and was allowed to photograph the Huffer party at the Racket Bar, said he had already approached and photographed the Ridges.

The award-winning photographer - who has worked for some of the biggest news organisations in the world - said he came forward again when he saw Jaime Ridge becoming intimate with a young man at the bar.

His interest was also piqued by the presence of New Zealand Kiwis league player Lewis Brown, who also plays for the Warriors.

"[Woodhouse] turned up and he pushed me out of the way. He said 'you've got your shots'."

Simpson said he retreated to the toilet. He encountered Woodhouse again and the two barged up against each other. "He said 'you've got to stop this, snapping people when they don't want to be photographed'."

Simpson said he grabbed Woodhouse's shoulder and pushed him backwards. There was one further altercation at the bar before Simpson left. He said he did not punch the millionaire. "It was a stoush without a punch."

The Herald on Sunday's Spy column has previously reported on Sally and Jaime Ridge, who has just turned 18, out socialising together.

Jaime's father, Matthew Ridge, said: "It's got nothing to do with me."

- additional reporting David Fisher