MY FORMER NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IN 1982: BOY GEORGE'S 'VICTIM' SOLD STORY TO FLEE U.K.

The male escort at the middle of singer BOY GEORGE's false imprisonment trial cashed in on his alleged ordeal by selling his story to a magazine in his native Norway, a London court has heard. The former Culture Club frontman, real name George O'Dowd, is charged with unlawfully detaining and assaulting model Audun Carlsen in his East London apartment in April 2007 following a row over naked photographs he had taken of the man.

O'Dowd is alleged to have lured Carlsen to the bedroom of his home last year (07), where he reportedly handcuffed the 29-year-old to a hook on his bedroom wall and assaulted him with a metal chain after accusing him of tampering with his laptop computer. Carlsen managed to escape and immediately reported the incident to police. The jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court was told on Tuesday (25Nov08) how Carlsen later sold his story to a Norwegian publication, pocketing $8,250 (£5,500) from the deal.

The model claimed he needed the cash to flee the U.K., because he was "too scared to stay in the country". However, the court heard how Carlsen had failed to mention details of his magazine deal to cops when they interviewed him days after the alleged attack. He denied allegations he had not been "straightforward" with the authorities, adding,

"I told the police everything that I had received (money) when the story came out. "The reason I gave this interview was because of all the things that were written, for the sake of my family."

O'Dowd has denied the charges against him.The trial continues.

He sold the story rights and a trial is going on? Well, let's see the outcome. I hear Boy George was obsessed with spanking the male escort. Culture Club was a band who lived next door to me and my boyfriend apartment in 1982. They were so cool! Times have changed!! I grew up with these guys. Can't find those photos anymore but George O'Dowd will remember me.