People News

Jail bird Nicole Richie

Jul 30, 2007, 11:20 GMT

Nicole Richie (L) and boyfriend Joel Madden arrive for Richie\'s court appearance in Glendale Superior Court in Glendale, California July 27, 2007. Richie was sentenced on Friday to four days in jail for driving under the influence of drugs -- following her TV co-star Paris Hilton for a stint behind bars this summer. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

Nicole Richie has been sentenced to four days in jail after pleading guilty to DUI (driving under the influence) on Friday (27.07.07).

'The Simple Life' star - who is believed to be four months pregnant with her first child - entered the plea at California's Glendale courthouse.

Nicole also agreed to serve a three-year probation term, enrol in an alcohol education programme and pay a $2,048 fine.

Los Angeles County Commissioner Steven Lubell told the troubled 25-year-old: "Someone could've gotten killed. You need to understand that driving under the influence is extremely dangerous."

Nicole was given the option of serving her time in a paid city jail - which is seen as a more comfortable option than a county jail.

She wasn't given a surrender date, but must complete her sentence before September 28.

Nicole, the adopted daughter of singer Lionel Richie, arrived at court wearing a loose fitting black Moschino dress, apparently concealing her baby bump, clutching the arm of her boyfriend, Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden.

The fashion icon will not be permitted to wear her designer heels in jail in case she attempts to use them as a weapon.

Burbank police Sergeant Thor Merich said: "She's not going to be wearing a miniskirt and pumps. We go bare minimum."

Nicole has a previous conviction for DUI from 2002 and California law states anyone with two DUI convictions must at least serve five day in jail.

The star was arrested on December 11, 2006 for driving on the wrong side of the road on a California highway on her return from Madden's house.

She told the arresting officers she had smoked marijuana and taken the strong painkiller Vicodin.

Nicole had originally pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Her 'The Simple Life' co-star and close friend Paris Hilton recently served 23 days in a Los Angeles county jail for driving with a suspended licence.

(C) BANG Media International