Kiefer Sutherland will spend 48 days in a Los Angeles prison after pleading no contest to charges of drink driving and violating probation.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, the actor won’t be imprisoned until his hit TV show 24 begins its winter production break in December.

The 40-year-old did not appear in court on Tuesday but his lawyer, Blair Berk, entered the plea agreement on his behalf. Sutherland agreed to serve 30 days for driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 percent, as well as 18 days for violating his probation for a 2004 drunken driving case. He also agreed to enrol in an 18-month alcohol education programme and attend weekly alcohol therapy sessions for six months.

The actor was arrested in Los Angeles last month after he pulled a u-turn in front of police.

Sutherland won't be sentenced officially until December 21 – the day 24 begins its Christmas break. He will then serve 18 days in jail. The actor will have until July 1, 2008, to serve the remaining 30 days in prison. He will be on probation for five years and faces fines and a driving suspension.

In a statement, Sutherland said: “I'm very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited recently, and I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers on 24 and at 20th Century Fox.”

Fox officials appeared pleased that Sutherland’s plea agreement spared 24 from disruption. The broadcasting company said: “Kiefer made clear to us at the time of his arrest that his first concern was the welfare of those he worked with and that he intended to do whatever was necessary to prevent shutting down the show because of his situation.

“He told us that even if he had to sacrifice more time in custody in order to protect the show and the jobs of those who work with him, he would do so. From what occurred today, it is evident he is a man of his word.”

Sutherland also has a 1993 conviction for alcohol-related reckless driving.

Last year he won a best actor Emmy for his performance as counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer on 24.

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