Tuesday 21 November 2017 19:07, UK
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku will avoid the prospect of jail by paying compensation to Los Angeles police over repeated call-outs to loud parties in the summer.
Police said they arrested the 24-year-old after responding to five noise complaints in as many days at a Beverly Hills residence where he was staying.
The parties were held while Lukaku was on the verge of a transfer to Manchester United from Everton.
The Belgium forward will pay 450 US dollars (£340) to reimburse the force, as part of a deal that will see the charge reduced from a misdemeanour which could have carried six months in jail, a Los Angeles court was told on Tuesday.
Commissioner Jane Godfrey, overseeing the case, said: "They are reaching a disposition in this case that the first thing that must happen is the defendant must pay Beverly Hills Police Department 450 dollars for multiple response calls."
Godfrey added the city will then reduce the charge to a disturbance of the peace infraction, which carries a 100 dollar (£76) fine plus other costs and penalties. As a misdemeanour, the charge would have carried the maximum sentences of six months in county jail or a 1,000 dollar (£760) fine.
James Eckart, for the city, and Lukaku's lawyer Robert Humphreys have accepted the arrangement.
The striker's signing by Manchester United was completed around eight days after his arrest by the force at around 8pm on July 2.
The case will return to Los Angeles Airport Courthouse on December 18 when Lukaku's lawyer is expected to pay the 550 dollars (£416) in fines and compensation, and a 40 dollar (£30) fee, as well as other undecided penalties.
