Will Young reveals his mugshot is used as part of police training sessions

Will Young has revealed that the mugshot taken of him when he was arrested for drink-driving as a teenager is used as part of police training courses.

The 43-year-old star rose to fame on Pop Idol in 2002, but several years earlier he was nabbed by police while under the influence of booze — and his mugshot was so bad that cops still use it to teach what not to do.

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Speaking on stage at the London Palladium — reported via the Mirror — Young said he's since managed to get a copy of the picture and is using it on Christmas cards.

He revealed that he discovered the bizarre revelation when he paid a visit to a local police station to report homophobic abuse he had received.

Young said: "The officer said ‘hi Will’, and to this day I don’t know why I said it but I said: ‘Hi, PC Plod’.

"Anyway, before I could report the crime, the officer said that I’d once lost my licence for drink-driving.

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"When I asked her how she knew, she told me when they do the national police training, my picture is used as an example of how not to take a picture when you arrest someone.

"I managed to get a copy – and it’s now my Christmas card."

Young's current tour marks 20 years of his time in the spotlight since beating Gareth Gates to win the first series of Pop Idol, which culminated in 2002.

His first three singles — including a collaboration with Gates — went to number one in the UK, and he added a fourth number one with the release of Leave Right Now in 2003.

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As well as his recording career, he has also taken on stage work and earned an Olivier Award nom for his role in the 2013 revival of Cabaret.

This year, he made an appearance on The Masked Singer, performing in the Lionfish costume.

Watch: Will Young reveals he was asked to kiss George Michael