Monday September 22, 2008

A TEARFUL George Michael begged cops not to charge him after he was caught in a public toilet with crack cocaine and cannabis.

The Careless Whisper hitmaker was detained on Friday, September 19 in the Hampstead Heath area of north London, close to his home in Highgate.

He was questioned at a nearby police station and later released with a caution for possessing class A and class C drugs.

And George — who yesterday apologized to fans for “screwing up again” –  said a conviction could get him barred from America, where he has an Aids benefit gig next month.

George, 45, claimed his charity would lose $4million in ticket sales if he could not go.

A source tells British newspaper The Sun, “He was very emotional. He kept saying, ‘Please, you’ll ruin my career’. His sob story worked – he escaped with a caution. He was even chauffeured home. He only got away with it because of his celebrity status.”

Michael was previously arrested in October 2006 in London, when cops found him slumped over the wheel of his car. And last May (07) he was handed a two-year driving ban after pleading guilty to driving while unfit through drugs.

Ex-Scotland Yard commander John O’Connor said, “He should have been prosecuted. He’s clearly out of control. What does he have to do to be dealt with properly?”