50 Cent Laughs Off Restraining Order

Rapper 50 Cent has laughed off the restraining order banning him from contact with his ex-girlfriend - insisting he hasn't seen her outside of a courtroom in more than a year.

A New York judge agreed to Shaniqua Tompkins' request yesterday, which will prevent the star, real name Curtis Jackson, from being on the same premises as the mother of his 11-year-old son Marquise.

But 50 Cent's lawyer Bret Kimmel claims the petition is merely a "tactic", because the former couple has no contact anyway.

His statement reads, "Outside of courtrooms and lawyers' offices, Mr. Jackson hasn't seen nor spoken with Ms. Tompkins in a year and a half, and he has no interest in doing so now.

"The petition is little more than a tactic and a vindictive response to the petition Mr. Jackson filed seeking an order holding Ms. Tompkins in contempt of court for refusing to permit him to be with his son."

The pair has been battling in court over 50 Cent's Long Island, New York home, where Tompkins and Marquise have been living.

The house was destroyed in a suspicious blaze in May.

The rapper is currently suing Tompkins for defamation after she accused him of starting the fire.