Chris Brown completes domestic violence counselling

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Schnegg congratulated the 21-year-old entertainer for finishing the programme, telling him that he did it in a “very fine fashion”.

The judge said she had “no doubt he's going to successfully complete” the 180 days of community labour mandated under his June 22, 2009, plea.

As a result of completing the domestic violence programme, Brown will not have to appear in court for progress report hearings every three months as he has been doing, Schnegg said.

But the judge said Brown - who is on probation for five years – will have to return to court once an attorney for Rihanna reaches her and checks to see if she would object to the terms of a protective order being modified at the defence's request.

The order currently requires Brown to stay at least 100 yards away from Rihanna, unless they are both attending an entertainment industry function, where he has to stay at least 10 yards away from her.

Defence attorney Mark Geragos asked for the order to be eliminated.