GEORGE MICHAEL - MICHAEL 'ASHAMED' OF DRUG ABUSE

LATEST: British pop star GEORGE MICHAEL is "ashamed" of the drug abuse at the centre of his high-profile court case in London. The former Wham! star yesterday (08May07) pleaded guilty to driving while unfit due to drug use after an incident in the British capital last year (Oct06), when he was found slumped at the wheel of his car. And Michael admits the episode was "stupid", claiming he has been "filled with shame" ever since the October 2006 incident. He says, "I did something very stupid and I am very ashamed since doing it. I'm not used to defending myself in a position where I am ashamed of something. "If I had known the day after the charge was brought the legal option of accepting a punishment without taking responsibility for something I felt I was not guilty to, I could have saved everyone here a lot of time and trouble. "But I genuinely believe I only knew the full possibility of this in the last week and as soon as I took on (lawyer) Mr Spiro I realised I had been in a combination of misinformation and shame for about eight months." The case at Brent Magistrates Court was adjourned, with Michael due to be sentenced on 30 May (07).