Posted by Adam

Tuesday August 24, 2010

CARELESS driver George Michael appeared in a London courtroom Tuesday morning — where he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs.

The superstar singer stood in front of a judge in Highbury Magistrates Court, north London, earlier today where he also admitted possessing cannabis when he was arrested last month after he crashed his car into a high street shop.

The Too Funky hitmaker — born  Georgios Panayiotou — will be sentenced at a later date but was handed a six-month interim driving ban after Judge Robin McPhee heard details of the incident, which happened as the singer drove home from the Gay Pride parade in London.

The judge wants to consider the progress of a community order imposed on the singer from a previous conviction in 2007 and also investigate the impact a prescription sedative may have had on the star’s behaviour.

George — who spoke only to plead guilty and confirm his personal details during the 15 minute hearing — was warned he could face jail.

George was arrested in September 2008 after being caught in a public toilet in possession of crack cocaine and marijuana.

A year previously he was handed 100 hours community service for drug driving after being found slumped at the wheel of his Mercedes car by police.

In a frank interview last year the ex-WHAM! star insisted he had cut down his marijuana use, smoking only “seven or eight” cannabis-laced cigarettes a day from 25.

George — who is in a long-term relationship with art dealer Kenny Goss — also admitted he was frustrated that people judge him for his drug use and penchant for casual gay sex.

“People want to see me as tragic with all the cottaging and drug-taking. I don’t see them as weaknesses any more. It’s just who I am,” he said.

“I’ve done different things at different times that I shouldn’t have done, once or twice, you know. Of course, nobody wants to regularly smoke crack.”

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