'I deserved jail'

George Michael speaks openly about his time in prison...

10:22 07 March 2011

Singer George Michael has said he "deserved" to be jailed for crashing his Range Rover while driving under the influence of cannabis last September.

Speaking to Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, the star said that going to prison had been karma for repeatedly breaking the law.

Michael was fined and given an eight-week sentence for driving into the front of a photo shop in London.

In the interview, the singer said he was "ashamed" to have broken the law and that he is now having treatment for his problem with drugs.

"This was a hugely shameful thing to have done repeatedly, so karmically I felt like I had a bill to pay. I went to prison, I paid my bill."

He spoke to Evans candidly about his time in prison, saying:

"Remarkably enough, I know people must think it was a really horrific experience - it's so much easier to take any form of punishment if you believe you actually deserve it, and I did.

"It wasn't a weekend break, put it that way. I didn't feel sorry for myself. I thought, 'Oh my God, this place is absolutely filthy, because it was Pentonville'. I just thought, you get your head down."

He also revealed that during his time in jail, he gave his autograph to every single staff member and prisoner.

The star has recorded a cover of New Order's True Faith for Comic Relief, which is the first song he has released since 2008.