George Michael jailed for eight weeks for driving while under influence of cannabis

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 3:45 PM on 14th September 2010

 

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George Michael was today jailed for crashing his Range Rover while under the influence of cannabis.

The 47-year-old star, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, had admitted the offence which is the latest in a string of driving mishaps.

He was found slumped at the wheel of his 4x4 after it ploughed into a branch of Snappy Snaps in London in July.

Michael had arrived at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in north London this afternoon wearing a smart grey suit, black tie and Ray Ban sunglasses.

 

 

Jailed: George Michael arriving at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court today

 

 

Police who banged on the window to rouse him became suspicious after they found him 'spaced out' and with no memory of what had happened.

The Wham! star was found carrying two cannabis cigarettes and tests on a sample of his blood showed he had chemicals linked to the drug in his system.

District Judge Robin McPhee gave him an interim six-month driving ban last month and warned him he could be jailed.

Mr McPhee said: 'I make it clear all options, in respect of sentencing, remain open, including powers to imprison.

'It is a serious matter. Your driving was extremely poor and there was an accident. There is also your conviction from three years ago.'

 

Michael admitted crashing his Range Rover while under the influence of cannabis

 

 

The singer was found slumped in his car in the early hours of July 4

 

The court heard Michael was also convicted of driving while unfit through drugs after he was found collapsed in his Mercedes in October 2006.

The crash was the latest in a long line of clashes with the law for Michael, who has been open about his use of cannabis and claimed he was trying to cut down.

The star has been cautioned for drugs possession, questioned over several minor accidents and, famously, fined for 'engaging in a lewd act' in a California public toilet.

Michael admitted driving while unfit through drugs and possessing two cannabis cigarettes when he was held in Hampstead in the early hours of July 4.

He was arrested shortly before 4am when two police officers found him apparently unconscious in his grey Range Rover in Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead.

Prosecutor Penny Fergusson said Michael appeared to try to get the car back in gear when he was roused by one officer banging on his window.

She said: 'Mr Michael looked at the officer with his eyes wide open and the officers could see his pupils were dilated. They opened the door and could see he was dripping with sweat.'

The court heard Michael did not initially respond to police and when asked what his name was, replied: 'George.'

 

 

 

The Snappy Snaps in Hampstead after the accident

 

When he got out of the car the officers found he was soaked with sweat, breathing heavily and had to be held up.

Ms Fergusson said Michael was confused and when told he had crashed into a shop, added: 'No I didn't. I didn't crash into anything.'

THE SINGER'S RAP SHEET

 

SEPTEMBER 2010

Crashed Range Rover into shop in Hampstead in the early hours on his way back from the Gay Pride parade. Arrested and tested for drugs. JAILED

AUGUST 2009

Arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink or drugs after crashing into the back of a lorry on the A34 in Berkshire. Breathalysed and held for almost five hours. NO ACTION

SEPTEMBER 2008

Held for possession of Class A and Class C drug after being caught by police in a public toilet on Hampstead Heath, a notorious meeting place for gay men.

CAUTIONED

OCTOBER 2006

Found slumped at the wheel of his Mercedes in north London. Pleaded guilty to driving while unfit. Banned for two years and handed 100 hours' community service. Also cautioned for possession of cannabis. BAN, COMMUNITY SERVICE

APRIL 2006

Allegedly crashed his Mercedes into three parked cars near his north London home. Interviewed under caution but not charged. NO ACTION

FEBRUARY 2006

Arrested for possession of a Class C drug after being found asleep at the wheel at Hyde Park Corner. Later said it was 'my own stupid fault as usual'.

CAUTIONED

1998

Arrested by U.S. police for 'engaging in a lewd act' in a public toilet in California.

FINE, COMMUNITY SERVICE

 

 

Michael was handcuffed, arrested and driven back to Hampstead police station where he failed a test to find whether he was fit to drive. He had not been drinking.

The prosecutor added: 'He could not remember the route he took or crashing his car. He just remembers the police officer knocking at his window.'

Michael admitted smoking a 'small quantity' of cannabis about 10pm the previous evening and said he also took a newly-prescribed sedative to help him sleep.

He told police he decided to drive between his homes in Highgate and Hampstead to meet a friend on the spur of the moment and forgot he had taken the sedative.

His barrister Mukul Chawla QC said his legal team would undertake further research about the impact of the sedative on Michael before the next hearing.

Mr Chawla said his client was 'clearly' unfit to drive and could not remember when he took the prescribed drug. He said this was no excuse for the offence.

The court heard he stopped driving after his latest crash.

Up to now, though, Michael had also ignored all previous appeals from concerned friends such as Sir Elton John and Bono to quit smoking marjuana.

He had even appeared on television programme The South Bank Show smoking marijuana.

Michael, who was being filmed during his greatest hits tour, said at the time: 'It's a great drug, but obviously it's not very healthy.

'You can't afford to smoke it if you've got anything to do. Anything at all would be foolish.'

The former Wham! star added that it could be a 'terrible, terrible drug' and that it could 'chill you out to such a degree that you could lose your ambitions,' but denied having a drug problem on camera.

In a later interview with on the BBC's Desert Island Discs, he admitted his cannabis use had become a 'problem.'

He added: 'Absolutely I would like to take less, no question.'

But he claimed that he did not think his habit was 'getting in the way of my life in any way.'

However, he was at least believed to have cut down his habit from 25 marijuana joints a day a few years ago to eight a day now.

In an interview last December, he said: 'I was probably more stoned in those days.

I was existing on a balance of Starbucks and weed. I probably do about seven or eight a day now.’

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1311935/George-Michael-jailed-weeks-driving-influence-cannabis.html#ixzz0zW4pP3Lr

Once he gets out, perhaps he'll release a song called "INside"...................... :rolleyes:

Slam!

Slam!

 

That had occurred to me, but actually, it's given me an idea. Check out the thread title.:rolleyes:

What a prick.

 

 

George Michael., that is....not you guys :P

Like how you changed the title :lol:

What a prick.

 

 

Interesting choice of words.:P

Like how you changed the title :lol:

 

Like George, I couldn't resist the urge......................... :rolleyes:

Oh dear...how sad...nevermind!

 

:nice:

My favourite headline was actually: "Lock Me Up Before You Go Go".................. :lol:

^:lol: