If you were the cop from The Village People, imagine how terrifying prison would seem – you'd be sharing a new home with hundreds of burly prisoners convinced you were both a policeman and a homosexual.

Luckily Victor Willis, the Village People cop who recently pleaded no contest to several drug offences, won't get to know what it feels like to be forced to sing I'm A Cruiser by a rapist with a shiv in a prison shower – trust us, it isn't a pleasant experience – because Victor Willis has been sentenced to three years probation instead of a jail sentence.

It seems like the only way to avoid going to jail on drugs charges these days is to a famous singer. Earlier this week, Pete Doherty dodged jail after the judge revealed herself to be a fan of his music and now – although the judge at his case didn't treat the court to a burst of Sodom And Gomorrah or Macho Macho Man – former member of The Village People Victor Willis also missed out on a jail sentence yesterday.

You'll remember that Victor Willis was arrested in his car back in March after a routine police stop uncovered all kinds of drugs paraphernalia in his car, and then a later check revealed that he was on the run for even more drugs and guns charges. In court in July, Victor Willis pleaded no contest to the charges, and then sat back to await sentencing while reflecting on just how lucky he was to leave The Village People 14 years before they decided to record the German World Cup 1994 anthem. And yesterday Victor Willis was finally sentenced, as Reuters reports:

Willis, who co-wrote some of the band's biggest hits such as "YMCA" and "In the Navy," pleaded no contest and got a suspended three-year, eight-month prison sentence on condition that he complete a 30-day drug treatment program at the Betty Ford Centre in Southern California, followed by at least six months in a treatment program in Long Beach, California.

Victor Willis has already spent the time since his arrest being treated for drug abuse in San Mateo County, which is thought to have swayed the judge from awarding Willis the harshest term of two years in prison. Well, that and Willis said he'd let him borrow his police helmet if he went easy on him. Oh, we're kidding. However, the judge – Mark Forcum – maintained that Willis needed to keep his ideas bucked up if he didn't want to end up in prison, saying that he:

"needs to be in a program that is structured and sound."

Before attempting to show he has faith in Victor Willis by solemnly adding:

"Young man, I was once in your shoes. I said, I was down and out with the blues. I felt no man cared if I were alive. I felt the whole world was so jive."

At that point, the judge started spelling out letters all big with his arms and was led away. No he wasn't.

Read more:

Ex-Village People Single Sentenced – Reuters

[story by Stuart Heritage]