(Cover) - EN Showbiz - George Michael cried his eyes out after he was sentenced to jail yesterday afternoon.
The 47-year-old singer was sentenced to eight weeks in prison after he pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and driving under the influence of drink or drugs. George was visibly shocked when District Judge John Perkins delivered his sentence at London's Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court, and his longterm partner Kenny Goss burst into tears.
Michael, who was dressed in a charcoal suit and blue tie, sighed heavily before he was led away and reportedly started sobbing as soon as he was locked up in the courts holding cell awaiting his transfer to Pentonville Prison in London.
"He didn't know what to do. He was in pieces. He kept repeating, 'I can't believe this has happened to me.' He was crying his eyes out, he was sobbing. He was like a little boy, Richard Hayes, who was in the cell on a speeding charge, told British newspaper The Sun.
George was then transferred to the A-Wing at Pentonville, where he was put into a segregation unit for his own safety.
In addition to his jail time, which will be served as four weeks in prison then the rest of his sentence out on licence, George was hit with a five-year driving ban, fined 1,250 and ordered to pay 100 costs plus a 15 "victim surcharge".
George had previously pleaded guilty to the charges, which relate to his arrest on July 4 in the Hampstead area of London following a car crash.
Passing the sentence, the district judge said he accepted [George had] shown remorse and is ashamed of what happened. He added he had taken into account the steps the star has taken to sort out his problems, which include ongoing counselling.
George had previously admitted smoking cannabis before driving, saying he had also forgotten he had taken an anti-anxiety drug. The judge called the mixture dangerous and unpredictable.
Georges barrister Mukul Chawla QC had begged the judge to give the star community service, saying he was trying hard to overcome his drug problems.
"Mr. Michael has asked his lawyers to express his profound shame and horror, the lawyer said. "The shame and horror arises from the fact he recognised his actions had the effect of causing other road users to be in danger.
At 3.35am on July 4 George lost control of his Range Rover and smashed it into a photo shop near his home. The crash buckled a door frame and shattered windows of the Snappy Snaps shop in the upmarket suburb.
CCTV footage showed a shocked George climbing out of the vehicle to wait for police.
George was not breathalysed, but was held on suspicion of being unfit to drive. He then underwent drug tests at a police station.
George was banned from driving for 24 months after he was found slumped at the wheel of his car in Cricklewood, North West London, in May 2007. He admitted he had taken illicit substances. He was also cautioned for possessing Class A and C drugs in 2008. (C) Cover Media