O'Neal is sentenced to drug rehab

Actor Ryan O'Neal has been ordered to go on an 18-month rehabilitation programme after pleading guilty in a Los Angeles court to possessing drugs.

He admitted possessing methamphetamine and was told the case would be dropped if he completed the programme.

Drug charges for the actor, 67, and son Redmond, 23, followed a police search of their Malibu home in September.

Redmond O'Neal will now appear in court next month to face the same charge plus one of possessing drug paraphernalia.

Ryan O'Neal must return to court on 10 July for a progress report.

Police conducted the search of their home under the terms of Redmond O'Neal's probation for an earlier drug possession case.

In June, the 23-year-old, who is Ryan O'Neal's son with actress Farrah Fawcett, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and methamphetamine as well as driving under the influence.

He was put on probation for three years.

Ryan O'Neal is best known for the 1970 film Love Story, for which he received an Oscar nomination.