London, England (CNN) — Pop singer George Michael was jailed Tuesday to serve an eight-week sentence after pleading guilty to a charge that he drove while under the influence of drugs.

The charge would normally carry a 12-week sentence, but District Judge John Perkins said he gave Michael credit for his guilty plea and his remorse. He said Michael must serve at least half the sentence.

The case relates to an incident in the early hours of July 4, when Michael crashed his car into the front of a north London shop, damaging the facade. No one was hurt in the accident.

Prosecutor Jonathan Efemini told the court Tuesday that when police got to the car, they found Michael wide-eyed and appearing “spaced out.” He was also carrying two marijuana joints, Efemini said.

Michael told police he had left home at 1:30 a.m. to see a friend but couldn’t remember the route. He said he had taken a sleeping pill that had been prescribed eight days earlier and admitted smoking cannabis earlier in the night, Efemini said.

About a dozen fans lined up to get a seat in court, but only five were allowed into the public gallery. Shelley Williams, 41, who was the first fan in, said, “I just wanted him to know that his fans out there support him.”

Another London fan, Anne Fallon, 41, said, “It’s really sad. I hope he can get the help he needs.”

Michael, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, was sentenced for the formal charge of driving while unfit through drugs. His sentence includes a fine 1,250 pounds, or $1,925, and a five-year driving ban.

He already reimbursed the shop owner in person for the damage, Efemini said.

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A bevy of former Redskins along with a collection of long-time D.C. media gathered at the Washington National Cathedral Thursday for a memorial service celebrating the life of former NBC 4 sportscaster George Michael.

Former Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs was present, along with former players John Riggins, Art Monk and George Starke among others. Redskins owner Dan Snyder also attended the service.

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Veteran sports anchor George Michael died early Thursday after a two-year battle with cancer, according to his former TV station.

Michael, 70, was known nationally for “The George Michael Sports Machine,” a syndicated TV show that ran nationwide for 27 years.

He was a fixture on TV for more than 25 years in Washington, where he was a sports anchor on NBC’s channel 4, producer Matt Glassman said.

“George was a pioneer in sports broadcasting,” Glassman said. “He was a gifted interviewer, a master storyteller, and one of the hardest working journalists out there.”

Michael retired from broadcasting in March 2007.

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