Inmates cheer George Michael as he starts jail term

George Michael was cheered by fellow inmates before being taken to the segregation wing at Pentonville, according to an ex-prisoner.

Joao Sena, 36, who was released today, said the star would have been strip searched before being taken to his own cell with private shower in the high-security wing.

He said the former Wham! star, 47, who was sentenced yesterday to eight weeks after crashing his Range Rover into a Hampstead shop while under the influence of drugs, will be allowed an hour's exercise a day.

Sena, who served three weeks for shoplifting, said: "He is in the G1 wing which is for sex offenders and people who have committed serious crimes.

"It's not tough in there but for someone who hasn't been there before it can be hard."

A woman who was visiting her son at the jail said she had been told the singer would shortly be transferred to another prison. She added: "The prisoners have all been shouting 'where are you George Michael' but in a nice way."