WWW- There are new fears for George Michael after he was discovered having an illicit encounter with a stranger in a London park.

The 43-year-old star was caught emerging from the bushes after a sexual encounter with pot-bellied jobless van driver Norman Kirtland on the notorious homosexual haunt Hampstead Heath.

Michael’s new shame echoes the incident which revealed his sexuality to the world – and which also led to him losing millions of fans – when he was caught trying to have sex in a California public toilet by an undercover policeman in 1998.

And it follows the star’s erratic behaviour in recent months which has seen him being charged with possession of cannabis after being found slumped at the wheel of his car in Hyde Park and investigated by police for colliding with three parked cars and not informing their owners.

The star, who is due to enter a civil partnership with long-term lover Kenny Goss in the next few weeks, was caught in the illegal act in the early hours of Tuesday morning by the News Of The World.

The newspaper pictured him returning from the encounter to his car where – incredibly – he had left the keys on a wheel.

He said: “Are you gay? No? Then f*** off! This is my culture! I’m not doing anything illegal. The police don’t even come here any more.”

But even Kirtland expressed his surprise at coming across the world-famous singer on the heath, saying: “I admit I was there for sex. But I’m astonished a man as famous as George should even think about doing it. It’s potentially so dangerous.”

Sex in public places is illegal if it is likely that it can be witnessed by a third party.

Michael’s lover Goss answered the door at the multi-millionaire singer’s £5million mansion in Highgate, just a mile away from Hampstead Heath.

Looking visibly distressed he said: “George is not going to say anything today. He has already said what he wants. This is behind us. That is everything we are going to say on the subject. We are getting on with the rest of our lives.”

Michael’s shame comes just after he had some good career news – when more than 200,000 tickets for his first concerts in 15 years sold out within half an hour.

Record company sources said they had tried to get the singer to calm down – but he does not believe he is doing any wrong.

“Until George realises he has a problem there is not a lot we can do,” said one. “He thinks there is nothing wrong with the odd bit of cannabis use and he also thinks there is nothing wrong with having sex with strangers.

“As far as he is concerned, that is what gay men do and I don’t think this is going to change his habits.

“All that has happened is that is going to feel increasingly victimised.”

During an interview with Michael Parkinson in April, Michael, who is believed to be worth £50million, pinned the blame for his problems on Sir Elton John and the media for turning his life into a ‘soap opera’.

He said: “Elton said he thought I was miserable for some reason and I have been trying to prove that I’m not ever since. The subtext to it is always, ‘He was all right before he came out and now he lives this depraved gay life and is miserable and fat’ and from that point on I have suffered this kind of wishful thinking from the Press.”

Michael is due to enter a civil partnership with Goss on their ten year anniversary later this year but he has admitted that the pair are not faithful to each other.

When he announced the pair were to wed he said: “Gay relationships are a bit different. I’m sure we’ll be allowed to roam if we want to. But we love each other dearly.”

A police spokesman said they were not planning to investigate as Michael had not been caught by an officer and no complaint had been made.

Last night in a statement Michael said: “This story is total bulls*** but it is nice to know that the News of The World is still so concerned for my well being.”

His publicist would not comment on why he disputed the allegations or whether he was going to sue.