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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Michael Barrymore admits cocaine possession | Michael Barrymore admits cocaine possession |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Entertainer Michael Barrymore has admitted possessing cocaine that was found in his pocket after police approached his car in London. | |
| Barrymore, 59, was detained in the early hours of 22 November after his Citroen DS3 hit a kerb in Acton. | |
| The former host of programmes like Strike It Lucky and My Kind Of People was fined a total of £780 at Ealing Magistrates' Court. | |
| A charge of being drunk and disorderly was withdrawn at the hearing. | A charge of being drunk and disorderly was withdrawn at the hearing. |
| Barrymore, born Michael Parker, was held after officers on routine patrol noticed damage to the Citroen, at the junction of The Vale and Dordrecht Road. | Barrymore, born Michael Parker, was held after officers on routine patrol noticed damage to the Citroen, at the junction of The Vale and Dordrecht Road. |
| The court heard he swore at officers during an angry rant, saying: "Don't you think I've had enough... from you lot over the years? | |
| "I know the law." | |
| After he was arrested he was seen trying to conceal a white substance in his mouth, prosecutor Sally Peters said. | |
| A small white rock was found in his trouser pocket and Barrymore tested positive for cocaine at a police station. | A small white rock was found in his trouser pocket and Barrymore tested positive for cocaine at a police station. |
| He was told the fine would have been higher had he not pleaded guilty. | He was told the fine would have been higher had he not pleaded guilty. |
| Barrymore's lawyer, Richard Gowthorpe, said he only had a "a very small amount" of the drug and apologised to police for his behaviour. | |
| "In many ways it's a sad day for Mr Parker to be before the courts and he's pleaded guilty to this offence," said Mr Gowthorpe. | |
| "Certainly he will be punished to a degree by the conviction itself. | |
| "This behaviour is wholly out of character. This is not part of a general lifestyle that Mr Parker is living." | |
| 'Good progress' | |
| Mr Gowthorpe told the court Barrymore is no longer using drugs and had sought help after the incident, with which he was making "very good progress". | |
| Drug worker Andrew De Cruze said: "He's undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy. | |
| "It's something Mr Parker has found very helpful and is willing to engage further in that process. | |
| "I would say Mr Parker is doing everything he can do address the issues." | |
| Barrymore was also said to be receiving treatment for alcoholism. |