Lindsay Lohan has left rehab

The troubled actress – who had been undergoing a rehab treatment programme at the Betty Ford Clinic in Los Angeles since September 28 – left the centre ahead of her probation violation court hearing this morning.

The 'Machete' actress is expected to be sentenced to either more jail time – up to a year behind bars - or receive a further court-appointed rehab stay when she stands in front of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elden Fox today (22.10.10).

She was sentenced to four weeks in jail on September 24 for violating her probation order after testing positive in drugs tests, but was released hours later.

Her lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley has been desperately trying to arrange a meeting with the judge before today, but was turned down.

But her team are apparently "expecting the worse" after her requests were turned down.

It is believed her mother Dina joined Lindsay in the centre on Wednesday (20.10.10), ahead of her daughter's release.

A source said: “She told me she saw Lindsay and she’s feeling really well and doing great. Now, they’re just anxiously awaiting Friday’s court appearance.”

Meanwhile, Lindsay's estranged father Michael has claimed he was attacked outside his home in Santa Monica, California, last night.

Gossip website TMZ reported: “He was getting into his car shortly before 10pm when someone came up behind him and started to choke him. Michael is telling cops he fought with the suspect before the man took off running."

Michael claims the man, aged in his 50s or 60s, was wearing a black running suite when he attacked him before running off.

The Santa Monica Police Department received an emergency call and raced to the scene to find Michael shirtless, apparently with scratches over his neck.

Police are investigating.