Morrison has faced various criminal charges during his career including a 1997 conviction for attempting to bring a
firearm aboard an airliner for which he served three months just as his hit song,
Return of the Mack, began rising up the US
Billboard charts.
[1][2] In 1998, he failed to appear in court on charges of possessing an offensive weapon, choosing to instead fly to the
West Indies island of
Barbados. He was arrested and remanded into custody upon his return to the United Kingdom.
[3][4] He was later cleared of the offensive weapon charge.
[5]
In 1999 he was convicted for armed robbery for holding up a liquor store.
He was convicted of
affray for his part in a brawl resulting in one fatality and sentenced to community service.
[2] Morrison later was incarcerated in
Wormwood Scrubs for a year for paying a lookalike to perform his court-appointed community service in his stead, while Morrison himself went on tour.
[2][6] While in prison, Morrison reportedly converted to
Islam and attempted to change his name to Abdul Rahman.
[7] Also in 1998, Morrison was banned from driving for six months and fined £1,380 after twice being caught driving without a licence.
[8]
In 2002, Morrison was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and car theft.
[9] He was released on bail but a policemen was later arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe from Morrison in return for his release.
[9] Morrison failed to appear in court to face the charges and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
[9]
In 2004, he was arrested and spent a night in custody after a fracas started when his medallion went missing.
[10]
In 2009, Morrison was arrested for an assault in London.
[11]