Russell Brand avoided a[uuid=86f58985-826e-4577-89b0-686855ed27dc] six-month trip to prison[/uuid] on Thursday (July 26) when a New Orleans judge sentenced the British comedian to 20 hours of community service over a charge of throwing a photographer's iPhone through a window.

According to Reuters, Brand, 37, who was not in New Orleans Municipal Court when the sentence for the misdemeanour charge was handed down, was ordered to pay a $500 fine on top of the community service.

A lawyer representing the Rock of Ages star entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. The community service was ordered by the judge as an alternative to a criminal prosecution and if Brand completes the required amount, the charges will be dismissed.

Brand's attorney, Robert Glass, said that the Brand X host could complete his community service "at any charity or agency anywhere, whether it be in California or England." A follow-up status hearing is set for 31st August.

Russell was arrested by New Orleans police on 15th March after a photographer [uuid=096e448d-e9e4-4a0a-a3a9-574fbe0c0ff8]accused the actor of grabbing his iPhone[/uuid] and throwing it through a window.

The incident resulted in a charge of misdemeanour criminal damage to property, which carries a penalty of up to six months in prison and/or a $500 fine.

After posting $5,000 bond, Brand tweeted a predictably silly response to the arrest: "Since Steve Jobs died I cannot bear to see anyone use an iPhone irreverently, what I did was a tribute to his memory," he wrote.

The funnyman [uuid=9b73be5a-bd6e-438f-939d-62fd14f4551d]later paid for repairs[/uuid] to the smashed window.

[uuid=0617e0dc-5493-4cf4-aead-36438caa85c5]CHECK OUT PICS OF RUSSELL & EX-WIFE KATY PERRY IN HAPPIER TIMES HERE[/uuid]