George Michael sentenced to jail after crash conviction

Police found George Michael slumped over the wheel after crashed his Range Rover into a shop in north London.

- Pop singer George Michael was jailed immediately Tuesday to serve an eight week sentence after pleading guilty to a charge that he drove while under the influence of drugs. The charge would normally carry a 12 week sentence, but District Judge John Perkins said he gave Michael's credit for his guilty plea and his remorse.
The case relates to an incident in the early hours of July 4, when police said Michael crashed his car into the front of a north London shop, damaging the facade. No one was hurt in the accident.
Michael, whose real name is
Georgios Panayiotou, was sentenced for the formal charge of driving while unfit through drugs, and must also pay a fine 1,250 pounds, or $1,925 and is banned from driving for five years.
Despite showing leniency, the judge mentioned Michael's two previous drug arrests, saying, "It does not appear you took proper steps to deal with what is clearly an addiction to cannabis."
Michael's was found guilty in 2007 of unfit driving through tiredness and prescription medication and received a two-year driving ban.

He was arrested again the following year near Hampstead Heath park in north London and cautioned for possession of a controlled substance.