Lindsay Lohan avoids prison

The 24-year-old actress left the rehabilitation program she’s currently undergoing to attend a Beverly Hills courthouse today, where Superior Court Judge Elden Fox decided her fate.

Lindsay could have been sent to prison after testing positive during two court-ordered drugs tests last month, but instead she has been ordered back to rehab.

According to website TMZ, Lindsay must stay in rehab until at least January 3 2011.

The star has to return to court on February 25 and she will need to undergo drugs tests between her rehab release date and the court date.

Lindsay was reportedly crying at the end of the hearing and is said to have told the judge, "Thank you".

Earlier this year, the star spent 13 days in jail and 23 days in rehab after she violated the terms of her 2007 conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Upon leaving rehab she had to submit to a number of rules including random drug tests, but failed two.

Lindsay had voluntarily been spending the last three weeks at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California.

The actress has been to rehab several times before, including stints at the Cirque Lodge Treatment Center, Wonderland Center and Promises Treatment Center.