Tyson in pink gear for jail term

Mike Tyson, resplendent in black-and-white striped jumpsuit and pink handcuffs and socks, has begun his one-day prison sentence for driving under the influence in Phoenix, Arizona. Tyson reported to jail today, an open-air facility near a dog pound and trash dump where the former heavyweight champion is being held in a secluded part of Tent City, apart from the 1500 other inmates.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who runs the jail, also said Tyson must wear jail-issue pink underwear.

Besides the day in jail, Tyson was sentenced to three years' probation. He also must perform 360 hours of community service and undergo drug testing.

The 41-year-old former fighter was arrested December 29 last year when he was spotted driving his black BMW erratically and nearly collided with a sheriff's office vehicle. Tyson had just left a nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona.

There were 2.16 grams of cocaine in several bags in his possession at the time and traces of marijuana in his system, prosecutors told the court in September

Prosecutors had sought prison time for the embattled former fighter, saying he was a repeat offender with a violent past and that the court needed to send a strong message.

Tyson attorneys had argued for probation because the boxer had admitted his mistakes and was working to battle his addictions.

Since his arrest, Tyson had undergone treatment at a California rehabilitation centre and worked with kids preaching a message of staying sober and keeping off drugs. His attorney said in court he had passed 29 straight drug tests.

"If you do good deeds and you help other people recover, alternatives to imprisonment are the better route," Tyson's attorney David Chesnoff said outside the courthouse.

He faced a maximum of three years and nine months in prison for felony possession of drugs and another six months in jail on the misdemeanour DUI charge. Tyson pleaded guilty to the charges in September underan agreement with prosecutors.

Authorities said Tyson revealed his cocaine addiction during the arrest and admitted to using the drug that same day.

-with Reuters

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Looks like Mike Tyson has a new battle to fight. He should try to be good if he wants to avoid some more jail time and wear pink handcuffs.