Sutherland to spend Christmas in jail

Kiefer Sutherland is to spend Christmas in jail after he turned himself in to start a 48-day sentence.

The 24 star was arrested in September having been caught driving under the influence of alcohol while on probation from a 2004 offence.

Sutherland was sentenced after he pleaded no contest to the charges against him and was told he had until March 30 to carry out the order.

He has decided to serve the sentence on consecutive days, despite plans being made to separate it into two blocks so that it would not interfere with filming for the US show.

But due to Fox announcing a screenwriters' strike there was no need for the actor to cut up the time he spends inside.

The Emmy Award-winner was handed 30 days in jail for the new driving offence and another 18 days for breaking his probation.

He was also put on five years' probation and was fined $510 (£255). The star must also attend an 18-month alcohol education-treatment programme and six months' worth of weekly alcohol counselling sessions.