FILE: George Michael charged with motoring offence

The singer George Michael will appear before a British court in January charged with being unfit to drive, police in London said on Sunday (December 31). The 43-year-old musician, charged under his real name of Georgios Panayiotou, will appear before magistrates on Jan. 11. The singer, who first found fame as the frontman for Wham! in the 1980s, has had a spate of recent run-ins with the law. He was arrested and cautioned earlier in October after he was found slumped over the wheel of his car in London and in possession of cannabis. In February, Michael was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, admitting it had been his "own stupid fault". In April the pop star also made the news when he collided with parked cars near his Highgate, north London, home. The musician, who has sold more than 80 million records throughout his career, kicked off his first tour in 15 years with a concert in Barcelona in September. But he sparked a row with mental health experts in October when he said smoking cannabis kept him "sane and happy" and appeared to light up a joint during an interview on ITV. Drug charities said they were concerned about the message his the singer's comments would send to young people.

ITN Source | January 4, 2007

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