Actor Tom Sizemore sentenced to jail for drug possession

Judge Cynthia Rayvis said Sizemore "abused the privilege of probation and needs to be in a lockdown setting".

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Lockdown: Actor Tom Sizemore has been given a 16 month jail sentence for violating the terms of his probabtion by being in possession of drugs

Sizemore's lawyer, Fay Arfa, said the sentence would not solve her client's problem, saying he had "literally fallen from stardom, sitting in a jail cell by himself".

She added that his legal team intended to appeal.

The actor admitted violating his probation on a previous drug conviction in court last week and tearfully pleaded with the Los Angeles Superior Court judge for leniency, begging her, "If you would please just give me one more chance for myself."

Sizemore was supported at the court hearing by actor Martin Sheen, star of U.S. television drama The West Wing.

He said: "I don't think prison is appropriate for anyone who is in the grip of drug and alcohol abuse," but added that Sizemore could be successful in a prison drug rehabilitation programme.

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Hollywood star Sizemore in his breakthrough role in Saving Private Ryan

Sizemore was on three years probation when he was arrested May 8 outside a California hotel on suspicion of methamphetamine possession.

The actor's probation for a previous methamphetamine possession conviction was revoked in 2005 when he admitted to using a prosthetic penis in a bid to fake a urine test.

But he checked into a psychiatric hospital for treatment of chronic depression and drug dependency, which a doctor said he has battled for years, and a judge later reinstated his probation.

The 45-year-old performer is due in court for a hearing on whether he will receive credit for the time he has spent in residential drug treatment facilities.

Sizemore's pleas to the judge for 'another chance' fell on deaf ears and he will serve time in jail