MISCHA BARTON - OC STAR MISCHA BARTON OWNS UP TO DRINK-DRIVING OFFENCE

OC STAR MISCHA BARTON OWNS UP TO DRINK-DRIVING OFFENCE

Mischa Barton has agreed a plea deal to avoid a jail term in her drunk-driving case.

The OC star was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), marijuana possession and driving without a licence in February, after being arrested in West Hollywood at 02:46 local time on December 27th last year.

Police had seen her straddling two lanes of traffic and failing to signal when making a turn.

But her attorney Anthony Salerno entered a plea of no contest to the DUI charge at her arraignment in Beverley Hills, California, on Thursday, meaning Barton will serve a three-year unsupervised probation term in return.

The 22-year-old will also attend a three-month alcohol-education class and be fined $1,700 (£850).

However, the marijuana possession charge was dropped and the driving without a licence charge has been reduced to an infraction.

Salerno told E! News his client "realised that she made a youthful mistake".

"She is pleased with this outcome. She understands the gravity of this but is glad that this is resolved," he added.

The English-born actress, best known for her role as Marissa Cooper on The OC, made her film debut in 1997's Lawn Dogs.

She also appeared in The Sixth Sense and Notting Hill and recently played a cameo role in British comedy hit St Trinian's.

Speaking on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on January 10th, Barton admitted: "Obviously I'm 100 per cent responsible for my actions in this case.

"I'm really disappointed in myself," she added. "I don't know what to say about it, except that I'm not perfect, and I just don't ever intend to do something this stupid again."