I won't give evidence - Boy George

12:27am Wednesday 3rd December 2008

Boy George chose not to give evidence in defence of allegations that he handcuffed a male escort to his bed and threatened him.

The 46-year-old pop star's defence counsel informed a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court, in east London, that Boy George - who is on trial under his real name of George O'Dowd - will not give evidence.

O'Dowd denies falsely imprisoning Audun Carlsen, 29, at his home in Shoreditch, east London, on April 28 last year.

The singer allegedly invited the Norwegian to his flat for a second time because he suspected him of stealing photos from his computer.

The pictures were taken during a naked photo shoot, for which O'Dowd had hired Mr Carlsen three months earlier, the court has heard.

As the defence case began, Judge David Radford asked Adrian Waterman QC: "Have you explained to your client that the time has come when, if he chooses not to give evidence or refuses to give evidence while sworn under oath, a jury may draw such inferences as appear proper by his failure to do so?"

Mr Waterman replied that he had done so.

The judge than asked if O'Dowd was being called to give evidence. Mr Waterman said: "No."