Hollywood star Wesley Snipes apologized for his "mistakes and errors" as he was jailed for three years for tax evasion on Thursday.

The Blade actor was handed the prison sentence by Florida judge Judge William Terrell Hodges after he was convicted of failing to file his taxes for five years.

Upon receiving his sentence, Snipes, 45, told the court: "I’m very sorry for my mistakes and errors. "I apologize to my family, the court and the community. "I’ve asked the court to show me mercy and the opportunity to make things right."

The star was acquitted of tax fraud and filing a false claim, as well as three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file a tax return at an earlier hearing.