George Michael is freed

GEORGE MICHAEL vowed to live up to the title of his hit song Freedom yesterday - announcing after he was let out of jail: "You will get sick of me from seeing me about."

Hours after his release from a 28-day stretch for taking drugs then crashing his car, the superstar stood defiantly at the gate of his house inviting photographers to take his picture.

The singer, 47, insisted he was "fine" and declared himself ready to face the world, saying: "There`s no one in the house - the minders have gone."

Launching into an impromptu speech after emerging from the flash pad in Highgate, North London - near where he ploughed his Range Rover into a branch of Snappy Snaps - he said: "I want to be out. I want to go out.

"So if you could all take a few pictures, I`d really appreciate it. Fantastic, what a beautiful day. I just want to say thank you to everybody who supported me in there.

"It`s been inspirational and I`m coming out here on my own so that you`ll realise that I just want to start again. Do you know what I mean?"

Earlier - at 6.15am - the singer had been smuggled out the back way from Highpoint open prison in Suffolk after serving half of his two-month sentence.

His partner KENNY GOSS - plus FOUR minders - were with him when he arrived back at his house four hours later.

After an hour, Goss and the security men drove away.

Minutes later grinning George - clad in black jeans, a white linen shirt and sunglasses - suddenly emerged from the house.

The highly animated star - gesticulating wildly and sometimes appearing to slur his words - then made his speech, insisting: "I`m fine. The house is empty."

He remained tightlipped when asked what it was like for him in prison. Joking with cameramen, he asked them not to film him as he punched the buttons of the security keypad on his front gate.

Still refusing to answer questions, he headed back to his front door. But as he did so reporters were left bemused as he pointed to the cloudless blue sky.

sections: Celebrities