A woman charged with stalking Hollywood actor John Cusack pleaded no contest Friday and was sentenced to time already served (six months) plus five years probation, court officials said.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Susan Speer also ordered Emily Leatherman, 34, to undergo psychiatric counseling, the official added.

By pleading no contest at the start of her trial jury selection was due to begin Friday -- Leatherman avoided going to state jail if she had been found guilty on two charges of disobeying a restraining order and petty theft for not paying a cab fare.

Leatherman was detained March 30 near the Malibu home of the star of "High Fidelity" and "Being John Malkovich," who told police she had been stalking him for about a month. The police were called by a cab driver who said she refused to pay her fare.

Leatherman, who had been arrested in 2007 outside the Beverly Hills home of actor Tom Cruise also on suspision of breaching a restraining order, was found mentally competent to stand trial on August 13.

In 2006 she had been served a restraining order to keep 150 meters (yards) distance from Cusack, 42, at all times.

Source: AFP