George Michael says drug bust 'my own stupid fault'

George Michael

LONDON - Pop star George Michael has admitted his arrest on suspicion of possessing drugs was "own stupid fault, as usual".

The 42-year-old singer was taken into custody early on Sunday at Hyde Park Corner in London after a member of the public called police to investigate a man slumped over the wheel of his car.

Police said he had been held on suspicion of possessing class C drugs, a group in British law which includes cannabis, tranquilisers and some painkillers.

"It's my own stupid fault, as usual," Michael said in a statement. "I was in possession of class C drugs, which is an offence, and I have no complaints about the police, who were professional throughout."

He added that he was tested by a police doctor who determined that Michael was capable of driving himself home. In fact, he was given a lift by a duty solicitor because his car was accidentally immobilised by police.

He has been bailed to return to a police station in late March pending a police investigation.

Michael has sold more than 80 million records throughout his career and enjoyed as much fame as a solo artist as he did as frontman of the band Wham!.

It was not his first brush with the law. Michael was arrested in April 1998 for engaging in a "lewd act" in a public toilet in Los Angeles, after which he ended years of speculation over his sexuality by announcing that he was gay.

The creator of hits including "Last Christmas" and "Careless Whisper" wrote a song "Outside" and based the accompanying video on the infamous public restroom incident.

On this occasion, though, he vowed musical silence.

"P.S. I promise I won't make a record out of this one - even though it's tempting."

- REUTERS