SYDNEY: American actor Johnny Depp’s wife Amber Heard pleaded guilty on April 18 to providing a false immigration document when the couple brought their two dogs into Australia in 2015, but she managed to avoid jail time over what was dubbed the “war on terrier” debacle.

Prosecutors dropped more serious charges that Heard illegally imported the Yorkshire terriers, Pistol and Boo, into Australia while Depp was filming the fifth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. A conviction on the two illegal importation counts could have sent the actress to prison for up to 10 years.

Depp and Heard submitted a videotaped apology to the court that was played during the hearing on April 18. Heard apologised and they expressed support for protecting Australia’s biodiversity, the aim of the strict quarantine regulations that were violated.

“When you disrespect Australian law,” Depp said in the video, “they will tell you firmly.”

Bringing pets into Australia involves applying for a permit and quarantine on arrival of at least 10 days to prevent the spread of diseases such as rabies.

The false documents charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a fine of more than $7,650, but Magistrate Bernadette Callaghan sentenced Heard instead to a one-month good behaviour bond. The condition means she will have to pay a AU$1,000 fine if she commits any offenses in Australia over the next month.