Image caption Bobby Brown joined R&B band New Edition at the age of nine

Bobby Brown has been sentenced to 55 days in prison in Los Angeles and four years of probation for drink-driving.

Following his arrest in October 2012, the 44-year-old pleaded no contest to charges he was under the influence and driving on a suspended licence.

He was on probation after another drink-driving incident at the time.

The New Edition singer and ex-husband of Whitney Houston will be required to undertake an 18-month alcohol treatment programme.

Brown was not in court on Tuesday when his attorney entered his plea and must report to jail on 20 March.

Before that date he must attend three AA meetings per week, according to reports.

Brown and Houston divorced in 2007 after 15 years. Houston would later describe their marriage as stormy and reveal they regularly took drugs together.

The singer and star of hit movie The Bodyguard died in February last year at the age of 48.