Jury goes out in Boy George trial

Boy George has refused to testify in court

The jury has gone out to consider its verdict in the case of singer Boy George who has been accused of beating and chaining a male escort to a wall.

Norwegian Auden Carlsen, 29, accuses the former Culture Club frontman of handcuffing him and beating him with a metal chain in April 2007.

The singer, real name George O'Dowd, alleges Mr Carlsen hacked into his laptop and stole photographs.

Mr O'Dowd, who decided not to testify, denies one count of false imprisonment.

Hacking allegations

During the trial the court heard the singer and the escort met for the first time at a pornographic photo shoot, during which the singer performed a sex act on the escort.

Mr O'Dowd said he believed his laptop was hacked into and accused Mr Carlsen of being involved, but the pair parted on good terms, the court heard.

When they met again at Mr O'Dowd's home in Shoreditch, east London, the escort claims the singer and another man punched, beat him and forced a manacle on his arm, which was then embedded into the wall.

Mr Carlsen claimed he was beaten with a metal chain as he tried to flee the house.

The court heard Mr Carlsen sold the story of his ordeal to a Norwegian magazine.