Blogger who leaked G'n'R songs escapes jail

A US blogger who admitted to leaking part of the Guns N’ Roses album 'Chinese Democracy' was sentenced to a year of probation on Monday.

Kevin Cogill was also ordered to serve two months of home confinement, subject his computers to government scrutiny and record a public service announcement for the Recording Industry Association of America.

Cogill pleaded guilty earlier this year to one misdemeanour count of copyright infringement for posting nine tracks from the long-awaited Guns ’N Roses album last year.

Cogill apologised for his actions in a Los Angeles court yesterday and said he didn’t mean any harm by posting the tracks online.

“I never intended to hurt the artist,” he said. “I intended to promote the artist because I’m a fan.”