News

George Michael Cried When He Was Jailed

• 15th Sep 2010

The ‘Freedom’ singer was inconsolable when he returned to a holding cell to be transferred to London’s Pentonville Prison shortly after being sentenced to eight weeks in jail after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of drugs at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.

Cellmate Richard Hayes told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I couldn't believe it was George Michael standing in front of me. When the door shut behind him, he didn't know what to do. He was in pieces.

“He kept repeating, 'I can't believe this has happened to me.’ I told him to come and sit down, asked him what happened and he just put his head in his hands.

“He was crying his eyes out, he was sobbing. He was like a little boy.

“I told George to sit down. To be honest with you, he was sh**ing himself. I tried to reassure him, but he just held his head in his hands and stayed in the corner.”

Though George – who was caught slumped at the wheel of his car after crashing into a photography shop in Hampstead, north London, on July 4 – had admitted the offence, his lawyer revealed in court yesterday that he remembered very little about the night, including his drug intake.

His barrister Mukul Chawla QC said: “Mr. Michael has asked his lawyers to express his profound shame and horror. The shame and horror arises from the fact he recognised his actions had the effect of causing other road users to be in danger.

“That stark fact is something of which he is greatly ashamed. He spent the evening watching TV. He can't say precisely when, but he smoked cannabis. He has been a smoker of cannabis for many years.”

The court heard the 47-year-old singer couldn’t remember when he had lost control of his car as he travelled between his house in Highgate, north London, to his other home in nearby Hampstead but “he thinks he was towards the end of the journey.”

Though lawyers for the singer – who has previously been arrested five times on other drug and driving charges – asked for him to receive a non-custodial sentence, District Judge John Perkins said his background was of too much “concern”, though credited him for checking into rehab shortly after the incident.

He said: “I accept entirely you have shown remorse.

“There's no question you have supported many charities and made a difference to many people's lives for the better.

“Your record is of concern. I must have regard to the sentencing guidelines.”

The singer’s long-term partner Kenny Goss cried as the sentence was read out.

George – real name Georgios Panayiotou – is expected to serve four weeks in prison.