The Diff'rent Strokes star was taken into custody on 24 January (10) after police were called to his Utah home.

No criminal charges were filed at the time, but Coleman was cited for a misdemeanour failure to appear warrant from a separate altercation in April, 2009, involving his wife, Shannon Price.

He spent the first few hours of his 42nd birthday on Monday (08Feb10) in court, where he pleaded guilty to one count of domestic violence criminal mischief.

As part of the plea deal, Coleman was handed a suspended sentence of 31 and a half days in jail - but he will avoid the punishment if he pays a fine of $595 (£372) and attends a domestic violence course.

A separate charge of domestic violence assault was dismissed, reports TMZ.com.