Justin Bieber brands critics 'hypocrites'

Pop star Justin Bieber has taken aim at critics who blasted his bad-boy behaviour, branding them "hypocrites" for not allowing him to make mistakes as he grows up.

The Baby singer has suffered a string of legal woes in recent years, including convictions for vandalism, careless driving and resisting arrest, and he was placed on probation last summer (14) for allegedly hurling eggs at a neighbour's property in California.

He was also ordered to serve five days of manual labour and undertake an anger management course, but Bieber insists it was wrong for commentators to condemn his behaviour as the scandals were part of his growing-up process.

He tells BBC Radio 1, "The fact that people weren't open to me making mistakes was almost really hypocritical, because we all know, if you're 19 and 20 and making mistakes... of course I have access to a lot more stuff and I'm under a microscope, I got cameras on me all the time. So I understand, but I'm done really apologising."

The Canadian singer, who shot to fame at the age of 15, also insisted stardom has not gone to his head, telling the network he is often approached by strangers in bars and is happy to chat with them.

"I think I disarm people," he says. "I just look in their eyes and smile and that makes it easier, like they're just talking to a boy... I try to be neutral and yeah, I have amazing fans, I love them and we have an awesome relationship, but I try not to be so invested to the point where if this person doesn't like me, it's the be all (and) end all. If I see something in the tabloids, okay, it sucks that they said that, but I'm still gonna drink my beer."