Troubled singer Chris Brown has admitted to violating his probation and was jailed for a year in Los Angeles, though he was given credit for about eight months already served.

A judge also renewed Brown's probation and extended it through January 2015, after the star admitted breaching the terms of his release linked to his notorious assault five years ago on then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Singer Chris Brown: has already spent eight months in prison. Credit:Reuters

Brown, who is also facing legal action over an alleged attack in Washington DC, has been on probation since he admitted the eve-of-Grammys assault on Rihanna in February 2009.

The probation was first revoked last summer after allegations stemming from a car crash, but was reinstated in August when Los Angeles judge James Brandlin ordered him to carry out an additional 1000 hours of community labour.