Australia offers to help arrested Russell Crowe

CANBERRA - Australia's consul-general in New York is attempting to contact actor Russell Crowe to offer assistance after Crowe was charged with assaulting a hotel employee.

Crowe's Los Angeles-based publicist said the Oscar winner lost his temper yesterday when a receptionist gave him "attitude" after the actor asked repeatedly for a faulty phone in his room to be replaced so he could call his family in Australia.

She said New Zealand-born Crowe threw the phone against a wall and never assaulted or hurt the hotel employee.

Police were called to the swanky Mercer Hotel in SoHo, downtown Manhattan about 4.20am local time, according to police.

Crowe, in New York to promote his latest film, Cinderella Man, appeared later in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon - the telephone - before judge Martin Murphy.

A Manhattan district attorney's office spokeswoman said Crowe faced up to eight years in jail if found guilty of both the assault charge and a charge of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon - the telephone.

The spokeswoman said the assault charge could attract a maximum jail term of seven years, and the other charge could attract a one-year prison sentence.

A New York City police spokesman said assault in the second degree was not a charge taken lightly.

"You don't get any worse than a felony," the spokesman said.

A spokeswoman for Australia's department of foreign affairs said that as a permanent Australian resident, Crowe would be offered consular assistance.

"Our consul-general in New York is endeavouring to contact Mr Crowe to offer normal consular assistance," she said.

"As an Australian permanent resident if he requires assistance we will provide it."

- AAP