Russell Brand fined for damaging a photographer’s iPhone

Actor Russell Brand has been fined $500 and ordered to do 20 hours of community service for damaging a photographer’s mobile phone.

It relates to an incident in March when the photographer tried to take Russell Brand’s picture in New Orleans.

Russell Brand’s lawyer, Robert Glass, pleaded not guilty on his behalf at a hearing at Orleans Parish Municipal Court on Thursday morning.

The fine and community service must be completed before the end of August.

Russell Brand has been fined $500 and ordered to do 20 hours of community service for damaging a photographer's mobile phone

A court spokesman said the community service must be carried out at a “suitable public entity” – which does not have to be in New Orleans.

Russell Brand was accused of taking the phone and throwing it through the window of a nearby law firm.

Writing on Twitter at the time of the incident, Russell Brand said he took the phone as “a tribute” to Apple boss Steve Jobs, who died last year.

The actor tweeted: “Since Steve Jobs died I cannot bear to see anyone use an iPhone irreverently, what I did was a tribute to his memory.”