The RnB star Chris Brown has been charged with a hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence.

Lawyers for the district attorney’s office in Los Angeles say the singer gave false insurance information and refused to hand over his licence after his car hit a Mercedes last month.

Both offences together carry a maximum of one year in jail.

Brown is currently on five years’ probation for attacking his ex-girlfriend, the singer Rihanna.

If a judge rules the charges violate his probation, reports suggest he could face up to four years in jail.

Brown assaulted his 25-year-old ex-girlfriend in 2009 and accepted a plea deal of community service, five years’ formal probation and domestic violence counselling.

Six months ago, it was claimed he was involved in another fight, this time with singer Frank Ocean, over a car parking space outside a Hollywood recording studio.

Police said Brown was under suspicion for punching the victim but the case was dropped after Ocean decided not to press charges.