People News

Sean Penn to have anger management

May 13, 2010, 12:33 GMT

US actor Sean Penn load the belongings of an earthquake victim during the moving to a new camp in Corail, northeast or Port au Prince, Haiti, 10 April 2010. EPA/Andres Martinez Casares

Sean Penn has been ordered to undertake anger management counselling.

The 49-year-old actor was not in court yesterday (12.05.10) to hear a judge rule he must undergo 36 hours of therapy, perform 300 hours of community service and be placed on probation for three years after he pleaded no contest to vandalism following a spat with a photographer last year.

The 'Milk' star has been permitted to complete his community service working for his Haiti charity.

His lawyer, Richard Hirsch, said: "Prolonging this matter in the court system would not have been in Mr Penn's best interests and would have distracted from his charitable commitments, specifically his work in Haiti.

"Accordingly he has decided to accept the terms and move on."

The actor had originally been charged with misdemeanour battery and vandalism, which could have led to an 18-month jail term, but agreed a plea bargain, which saw the charges dropped to misdemeanour vandalism.

In 1987, Sean was sentenced to 60 days in jail after attacking a paparazzo on a film set.

He was also involved in an altercation with another photographer at his brother Christopher's funeral in 2006.