Boy George released from jail

Monday, 11 May 2009

Boy George has been released from prison 11 months early.

The former Culture Club singer - real name George O'Dowd - left Suffolk's Edmunds Hill Prison this morning (11.05.09) after serving just four months of his 15-month sentence for the false imprisonment and assault of male escort Audun Carlsen.

Looking relaxed and somewhat slimmer, the 47-year-old star - who was sporting a neatly-trimmed grey beard - smiled and saluted waiting photographers as he left the institution.

George was granted early release for good behaviour but must wear a monitoring ankle tag, adhere to a curfew and report regularly to a probation officer.

The 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me' singer was initially incarcerated in London's tough Pentonville Prison after being sentenced in January, but was transferred to the less-strict Edmunds Hill facility.

Scandinavian Carlsen, 29, had alleged George and an unnamed male attacked him after a drug-fuelled photo shoot. He said the pair had handcuffed him and attached him to a hook drilled into the wall next to George's bed.

Carlsen also claimed George beat him with a chain as he tried to escape from the property.

George - whose actions were branded "callous and degrading" by Judger David Radford at the end of the trial - denied the charge of false imprisonment and accused Carlsen of trying to steal private photos from his computer.

The 'Karma Chameleon' star - who has a history of drink and drug addiction - did not give evidence in his trial at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court because he didn't want to upset his mother.