Forget Freedom: George Michael Gets 8 Weeks in Prison

Singer crashed car into London shop in July

Singer George Michael is prison-bound, after a London judged sentenced him to eight weeks behind bars for his latest misadventure.

The troubled pop star was sentenced today after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a July 4 incident in which he was found next to his Range Rover after it had crashed into a London shop. Police say they found him "spaced out" and with dilated pupils.

"It is a serious matter. Your driving was extremely poor and there was an accident," Highbury Corner Magistrates Court Judge Robin McPhee said when the singer pleaded guilty, adding that Michael has already had one conviction.

Three years ago, Michael was found slumped over the wheel of his car, which was blocking an intersection.

Michael, 47, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, climbed out of his auto and waited for cops after the 3:30 am incident, according to the Daily Mail. It was just the latest in a string of scrapes for Michael, one of the biggest stars of the 1980s. In 2007, he was arrested in London after drivers complained he was blocking the road. He pleaded guilty to driving while while under the influence of drugs and was banned from driving for two years and sentenced to community service.

At the time, he told the BBC that he smoked too much pot. Absolutely I would like to take less, no question," he said. "To that degree, it's a problem."

But he added, "I'm a happy man and I can afford my marijuana so that's not a problem."

Last year, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence when his Land Rover hit a truck. Back in 1998, he was arrested by LA cops in a park restroom and later pleaded no contest to engaging in a lewd act.

The Grammy award winner has sold an estimated 100 million albums as a solo artist, churning out such hits as "Careless Whisper" and "Faith."

Selected Reading: The Associated Press, TMZ, Guardian.

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