George Michael will carry out 100 hours of community service after his latest brush with the law. Michael, 43, was also disqualified for two years after admitting driving while unfit.

The pop star, due to appear at the new Wembley Stadium tonight, was found “slumped, drooling and sweating” at the wheel of his Mercedes at traffic lights in Cricklewood, northwest London, last year.

After signing autographs inside Brent Magistrates’ Court in West London, a smiling Michael, wearing a charcoal grey suit, emerged to say that he was “ashamed” of his behaviour. He appeared on the steps to say: “I have been sentenced on unfit driving through tiredness and prescription drugs, which I fully accept responsibility for.

“I’m glad to put this behind me and I am now off to do the biggest show of my life.”

The court heard that Michael has had five speeding convictions since 2000 and District Judge Katherine Marshall said that his driving record was “not good”.

Sentencing him, she said the level of unfitness was high, but gave him full credit for his guilty plea.

The singer is hoping to serve his sentence working in a youth club or with young people trying to forge a career in the music industry.

The first of two sell-out Wembley concerts will be held tonight and the singer left the dock after being told by the judge: “I wish you well with that.”

A toxicology report was negative for alcohol, but the singer admitted taking cannabis. Subsequent tests revealed a therapeutic dose of the antidepressant Efexor and a low dose of sleeping tablet zolpidem, also known as Stilnoct.

The “aphrodisiac” GHB was also found in his system at a level of 16mg/1ml. Michael appeared under his real name of Georgios Panayiotou.

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