George Michael goes to jail for car crash high on cannabis

• George Michael arriving at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London yesterday Picture: PA

The singer, who was labelled a "cannabis addict", was excused from sitting in the dock during the hearing and kept a straight face when he was led to the cells watched by his shocked lover Kenny Goss while fans in the public gallery gasped and sobbed.

Michael was "wide-eyed, confused and dripping with sweat" when police found him slumped over the wheel of the Range Rover after hitting a branch of Snappy Snaps in Hampstead, north London, damaging the wooden panelling.

The previous day he had been at a Gay Pride event in the city, before deciding to drive from one of his homes in Highgate, north London, to another property a mile and a half away in Hampstead. The incident, which happened at 3.40am on July 4, was captured on CCTV.

When told by officers that he had just collided with the shop window the 47-year-old replied: "No I didn't, I haven't crashed into anything."

Michael was unable to walk in a straight line and had to be supported by officers as he was led away, which he initially blamed on fused vertebrae in his back

He was taken to a police station and searched by officers who found two cannabis joints.

Further blood tests revealed traces of the class B drug in his system. He had not been drinking alcohol.

The court heard that in addition to smoking cannabis the night before, the star had also been prescribed powerful anti-anxiety pills, Amitriptyline, to help him sleep.

Prosecuting, Penny Fergusson previously told Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court: "The engine was still running and officers could see Mr Michael slumped in his vehicle.

"When they knocked on the window he jumped up. He seemed to be making movements to get the car in gear.

"He looked at the officers with eyes wide open and dripping with sweat.He was asked to get out but he stayed where he was.

"He appeared to be spaced out, and had to be supported by the officers who again noticed he was sweating and breathing heavily."

The singer, who appeared in court under his real name Georgios Panayiotou, admitted possessing a class B drug and driving while unfit through drugs.

Jailing Michael for eight weeks, four of which will be served on licence, and ordering him to pay 1,365 in fines and costs, District Judge John Perkins said: "Your record is of concern.

"It shows cautions for possession of cannabis twice in 2006, a conviction at Brent Magistrates in 2007 when you were disqualified from driving for two years for your first offence of driving whilst unfit, and again a caution for possession both of class A and class C drugs in September 2008.

"I accept entirely that you are remorseful for the offence."