'I'm very ashamed,' says George Michael as he pleads guilty to drug-driving charge

But George Michael still raised quite a stir as he arrived in court yesterday.

The singer may be more used to playing nearby Wembley Stadium but Brent Magistrates' court ground to a halt to see him stand trial for driving under the influence of drugs.

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Guilty: Singer George Michael pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs

Pleading guilty to a charge of driving while unfit through drugs the normally-defiant singer admitted he was in the unusual situation of being ashamed of something he had done.

He told the court room packed with journalists: "I did something very stupid and have been very ashamed since doing it.

"I'm not used to defending myself when I'm ashamed of something.

"I'm perfectly aware I did something very wrong. I got into my car when I was not fit to drive. I was not in my normal physical state.

"It was predictable because of the amount of work I had done that week."

He added: "I'm totally prepared to accept the correct punishment for that and would have accepted that a long time ago."

The 43-year-old former Wham! star was arrested last October after police were called to reports the car was causing an obstruction at a junction in Cricklewood, North London.

Officers found Michael slumped at the wheel of a Mercedes.

A dazed-looking George Michael sits behind the wheel of his car

At the time he was cautioned for possessing cannabis and pictures of him emerged appearing bleary-eyed and confused at the scene.

Michael yesterday told the court he had been under the effect of prescription drugs and tired from working hard.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving while unfit through drugs. But after a last minute change of legal team he yesterday changed his plea to guilty.

The extraordinary hearing at the north London court took place amid tight security with officials closing a whole floor of the building.

The singer arrived in a black BMW to a barrage of flashes from awaiting photographers.

Excited groups of court staff strained to catch a glimpse of the star, wearing a black jacket, matching open neck shirt, jeans and sunglasses as he passed through the court metal detector.

However not everyone was feeling as star-struck as inside court seven, district judge Katherine Marshall noticed the defendant was sitting beside his lawyer rather than in the dock.

Ordering the star, who appeared under his real name of George Panayiotou to move she told the court: "The defendant goes in the dock in this court."

Addressing the court Michael apologised for not pleading guilty earlier and blamed his previous legal team.

He said: "I genuinely believe I only knew the full possibility of this in the last week and that since I took on Mr Spiro I realised I had been in a combination of misinformation and shame."

The star shot to fame in the mid-1980s as half of pop group Wham!, who scored chart success with a series of hits including Club Tropicana, Careless Whisper and Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.

After Wham split Michael then went on to have a successful solo career.

Andrew Torrigton, prosecuting then asked for the case to be adjourned to hear expert witnesses and carry out more tests on a blood sample taken from Michael.

Michael was bailed to appear again later this month.

Then flanked by two minders and accompanied by his manager he left the courtroom to a crescendo of shouts from waiting fans.