The man who attempted to burglarise LL Cool J may be facing life in prison.

Jonathan A. Kirby, a 56-year-old transient who is said to be mentally ill, was arrested yesterday after breaking into the rapper's Los Angeles family home.

TMZ reports that Jonathan has now been formally charged with first-degree burglary and may potentially spend a lifetime in jail if convicted.

Jonathan is a third strike offender and in the state of California he automatically qualifies for 38 years to the end of his natural life for this offence.

Prosecutors on the case have asked that the court set the looter's bail at $1.1 million.

At around 1AM on Wednesday morning LL, who was upstairs, heard an odd noise. When he walked downstairs he spotted the robber, who managed to set off the home alarm system, and then immediately took him down.

In the scuffle the intruder apparently sustained a broken jaw and nose. The man is thought to be a mentally unstable transient. He is now in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries.

LL and his clan are unharmed.