Prankster gets probation for Brad Pitt attack

File photo: Angelina Jolie (L) and Brad Pitt attend the world premiere of Disney's "Maleficent" at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images/AFP)

>> Brad Pitt punched in face at movie premiere

LOS ANGELES: A notorious Ukrainian prankster who attacked Brad Pitt at a Hollywood red carpet event was put on three years' probation Friday, after pleading no contest to two charges against him.

Vitalii Sediuk was also given 20 days of community labour and ordered to undergo psychological counselling and stay away from future red-carpet or celebrity events, two days after the incident.

The 25-year-old was ordered to remain at least 500 metres away from Pitt and his partner Angelina Jolie, and stay away from the Hollywood & Highland Centre -- the home of the Academy Awards.

Sediuk, who knocked Pitt's sunglasses off at the premiere of Jolie's new film "Maleficent," pleaded no contest to charges of battery and unlawful activity at a theatrical event.

Two other charges -- assault and interference of a theatrical event -- were dismissed as part of a plea deal, prosecutors said.

Sediuk was arrested Wednesday after jumping over a barrier outside the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood and attacking the actor.

He made contact with Pitt's face, but neither the actor nor Jolie seemed fazed by the altercation.

Sediuk is a Ukrainian TV journalist who has a reputation for celebrity-related gatecrashing and stunts.

At this year's Cannes film festival, he burst onto the red carpet, threw himself to the ground and put his hands around "Ugly Betty" actress America Ferrera's ankles for a few seconds.

Other targets of his affection have included Will Smith, Madonna, British singer Adele and Leonardo DiCaprio.

In February 2013, he gatecrashed the Grammy music awards, going up on stage after presenter Jennifer Lopez read out Adele's name.

That stunt landed him in jail overnight, according to The Hollywood Reporter.