LONDON — George Michael has been sentenced to eight weeks in jail after crashing his car into a London building while under the influence of drugs.
The 47-year-old singer was also fined $1,930 and lost his license for five years, a British judge ruled Tuesday at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in London, the Associated Press reports.
Michael, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, pleaded guilty last month to driving under the influence and possession of cannabis. Police found the music star slumped at the wheel of his Range Rover after he crashed into a branch of Snappy Snaps in Hampstead in the early hours of July 4. The car’s engine was still running when authorities arrived at the scene.
The judge scolded Michael for getting behind the wheel after taking a "dangerous and unpredictable mix" of prescription drugs and marijuana.
"It does not appear that you took proper steps to deal with what is clearly an addiction to cannabis," District Judge John Perkins told Michael. "That’s a mistake which puts you and, on this occasion, the public at risk."
Michael reportedly sighed as the sentence was read. His longtime partner Kenny Goss looked on in disbelief.
This isn’t the first time Michael has been busted behind the wheel. In 2007, he was banned from driving for two years after pleading guilty to driving on drugs. The former Wham! star was also arrested last year on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs after his car hit a tractor-trailer, but he was released without charges.
