Chris Brown pleads guilty over punching a man in Washington DC

Rapper Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to punching a man outside a hotel in Washington DC last October.

Brown, 25, was accused of attacking Parker Adams as he tried to join a picture the singer was taking with two women.

The rapper had been charged with misdemeanour assault and had been in police custody for two days in connection with this case, reported TMZ. The judge sentenced him to time served, meaning he was free to go after appearing in court.

Brown's said that his client had been put on trial for a "phantom crime". "To say that he's been punished severely in this matter is an understatement," said Danny Onorato.

At the time of the assault, Brown was on probation in California for a 2009 attack on then-girlfriend, Rihanna. As a result, he was ordered to serve an additional 131 days in jail and was only released in June.

Brown said nothing to hundreds of photographers, reporters and fans waiting for him outside court, but had earlier apologised to the court. "I would like to say to the court that I'm sorry," he said.