Snoop Dogg has narrowly avoided a jail sentence after pleading “no contest” to charges of drug and firearms possession, reports the BBC. The star was put on five years probation and given 800 hours community service in a Californian court yesterday (11 April). Charged under his real name of Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr, Dogg was arrested in October 2006 over a parking offence at Bob Hope airport in Burbank, California. Police later found guns and marijuana in his car and at his home. Previous convictions have made it a felony for the rapper to own a firearm.

Under the ruling, Dogg must not fraternise with any gang members and only half of his community service could be with the American Football youth league he is associated with. Snoop’s lawyer Donald Etra said, "He recognises the severity of this. He recognises he got a great deal and he fully intends to make sure nothing prohibits him from keeping his part of the bargain."

The court case was the latest in a line of legal woes for the 35-year old rapper. Last month, Dogg was arrested in Sweden on suspected possession of marijuana and charges are currently pending on this case. A scuffle at Heathrow airport last year meant that the rapper was denied entrance to the UK last month, meaning his co-headlining tour of the country with P Diddy had to be cancelled.