Rapper TI has pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing illegal weapons at a hearing in Atlanta. The star, whose real is name Clifford Harris, was arrested last October for taking possession of machine guns bought for him by a bodyguard. He initially pleaded not guilty - and faced up to 10 years in prison for each of the charges.

Under the plea agreement, however, he will carry out community service, with sentencing to follow next year.

Rapper T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, leaves an Atlanta courthouse  after pleading guilty to weapons charges. Photo by: John Bazemore

US Attorney David Nahmias said that if the star spends 1,000 hours working with young people, he will receive a lighter sentence of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, three years under supervised release and further community service.

If he fails to keep his end of the bargain, he faces a much longer sentence, Nahmias warned.

Sentencing will take place in March 2009.

'Gangs and drugs'

"I'm not looking forward to being incarcerated," Mr Harris was reported as saying in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution.

"I have a long road of redemption to travel. ... I realise completely I violated the law, and I take it very seriously."

Nahmias said Mr Harris's community service would involve educating people "about the dangers of violence, guns, gangs, and drugs".

It is hoped that the work will help "prevent and deter at least some of them from committing crimes that endanger their communities and ruin their lives," he added.

"This resolution is in the public interest and consistent with the principles of federal prosecution and sentencing," Nahmias said.

Mr Harris is best known in the UK for his guest appearance on Justin Timberlake's My Love single.

He won two Grammys last year, and appeared alongside Denzel Washington in the Ridley Scott movie American Gangster.

The star is not allowed to own or buy firearms because of a drug conviction dating back to 1998.

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