A photographer has sued Justin Bieber and one of his bodyguards for assault and infliction of emotional distress over an altercation on Hawaiian beach last year.

The lawsuit by paparazzo Aja Oxman states Bieber ordered his bodyguard to take a memory card after the photographer took photos of the pop singer leaping from a cliff into the ocean.

Bodyguard Dwayne Patterson placed Mr Oxman in a chokehold and seriously injured him and damaged his camera during the November incident, the lawsuit states.

The complaint seeks unspecified damages in excess of 25,000 dollars (£15,000) for assault and battery, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Patterson was arrested on suspicion of assault and later charged with second-degree robbery.

He pleaded no contest to criminal property damage and harassment and was ordered to pay Mr Oxman 6,000 dollars (£3,600) in restitution, court records show, which he has done.

Bieber, 20, was not arrested, and no charges were filed against him due to a lack of evidence that he ordered Patterson to attack Mr Oxman, Kauai County prosecuting lawyer Justin Kollar said.

The lawsuit does not accuse Bieber of taking part in the assault, but it states the singer helped his bodyguard destroy the camera.