BAYWATCH - HASSELHOFF AVOIDS JAIL

Former BAYWATCH star DAVID HASSELHOFF narrowly avoided a jail sentence on drink driving charges yesterday (28OCT04).

The 52-year-old actor was ordered to attend 50 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) meetings, fined $200 (GBP111), placed on probation for 36 months and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service after pleading "no contest" to driving with excess alcohol.

Hasselhoff was also ordered to complete a driver's course before he is allowed to drive - other than to work or taking his children to school.

The star - who recently completed a stint in musical CHICAGO in London's West End - was stopped by police driving erratically near his home in Los Angeles.

A court in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, ruled Hasselhoff must complete his community service working for the charity WHEELS FOR HUMANITY, which provides wheelchairs for disabled children in poor families.