MICKEY ROURKE - ROURKE GIVEN PROBATION FOR 2007 ARREST

MICKEY ROURKE has been sentenced to six months' probation after pleading guilty to charges of reckless driving in relation to his November 2007 arrest in Miami Beach, Florida. The Angel Heart star was pulled over by police after they spotted him weaving all over the road on his Vespa scooter. Rourke was initially booked for driving under the influence (DUI), but authorities later admitted the Breathalyzer test - which the actor failed during his arrest - was incorrect. A second machine used later showed Rourke was just under the legal limit, and the DUI charge is expected to be officially dropped by Miami Beach's District Attorney. Rourke, 55, was sentenced for the reckless driving charge on Friday (21Mar08) and ordered to undertake 50 hours of community service, in addition to paying a fine and legal costs totalling $1,178.75 (GBP589.38). However, he was allowed to buy the hours to avoid having to complete the community work and paid $10 (GBP5) for each hour received. His lawyer Michael Grieco says, "The only thing he has to do is take an online driving course."