UK NEWS
WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GROW GROW
George Michael
By Allister Hagger
SHAMED pop star George Michael showed he was not above getting his hands dirty as he spent yesterday gardening with drug addicts and alcoholics.
It was part of his punishment for driving while under the influence of drugs.
The ex-Wham star, ordered to do 100 hours of community service, turned up for his first day’s work at a London hostel for the homeless.
He hid behind shades and a baseball cap but told the Daily Express he was “happy to muck in” with other offenders.
George said: “I’m just like everyone else. If you do something
stupid you have to pay the price. I’ve been doing some gardening and really enjoyed it.”
He had asked a judge if he could spend his sentence helping young musicians, but his request was turned down.
And casually dressed in long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans, he insisted he was happy to be doing something for the community.
He added: “I’ll do whatever they want me to do. I don’t want any special treatment.”
During three hours helping in the hostel garden, he chatted to fellow workers as he dug the soil and sorted seeds into envelopes.
His run-in with the law began when he was found slumped over the steering wheel of his Mercedes after driving erratically and failing to drive off at a green light.
It was claimed that sleeping pills, anti-depressants, cannabis and club drug GHB were found in his system. Hostel resident William Bowie, 42, said: “Most of us are drug addicts or ex-drug addicts so we can maybe relate to him.
“He’s just like everybody else except he’s got a lot more money. It’s great publicity for the hostel.”
Michael, banned from driving for two years, had been dropped off at the hostel by Range Rover. The chauffeur waited to pick him up again after he’d finished work.
