LONDON — Boy George was sentenced Friday to 15 months in jail for falsely imprisoning a male escort, The Associated Press reports.
The singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, was convicted last month of handcuffing and beating Norwegian escort Audun Carlsen on April 28, 2007.
Carlsen, 29, was reportedly held for under an hour during the incident, which took place at the former Culture Club frontman's east London apartment. The singer admitted to cuffing Carlsen, but said he did so while determining if the escort had tampered with his computer, AP says.
After he got loose, Carlsen said Boy George swung a metal chain at him. He then fled the singer's home following a naked photo shoot.
Boy George was released on bail after the verdict. He is scheduled to return to the London court on Jan. 16 for sentencing.
The musician, best known for such '80s hits as "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," has had his share of troubles in the past. In addition to a long history of drug abuse, he spent several days sweeping the streets of New York in 2006 as part of a court-ordered community service handed down when he falsely reported a burglary and police discovered cocaine at his lower Manhattan home instead.
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