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Jesse James 'awarded full custody of 7-year-old daughter'

Published Wednesday, Jul 27 2011, 21:53 BST | By Jennifer Still | Add comment

Jesse James has been awarded full custody of his 7-year-old daughter Sunny.

A judge in Orange County, California ruled on Monday that James would be the sole carer for the child, ending a longstanding court battle with the 42-year-old's ex-wife and Sunny's mother, porn star Janine Lindemulder.

James's lawyer John Schilling told People that Lindemulder may only see Sunny during monitored visitation sessions and that she must complete an inpatient drug rehab programme if she relocates to Texas, where James currently resides.

"Jesse feels vindicated. This is what he's been claiming all along, that Janine needs therapy," Schilling said.

James previously blasted Lindemulder's drug use, telling a court in 2010 that she posed a serious risk to Sunny's safety. He subsequently refused to let Lindemulder have access to their child.

Lindemulder was arrested in January after making a series of harassing phonecalls to James. She was later released on bail.

James called off his engagement from fiancée Kat Von D earlier this week.