Former CULTURE CLUB frontman BOY GEORGE has been jailed for 15 months for the false imprisonment of a male escort.

The singer - real name George O'Dowd - was convicted in December (08) of chaining Norwegian Audun Carlsen to a hook in a bedroom at his east London apartment in April 2007 after suspecting the escort of tampering with his computer.

O'Dowd, 47, denied the charge and claimed he lawfully detained Carlsen for allegedly stealing photos from his laptop.

Judge David Radford slammed the singer during the hearing at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday (16Jan09), claiming he was guilty of "gratuitous violence".

Judge Radford told the court, "Whilst I accept that Mr Carlsen's physical injuries were not serious or permanent, in my view there can be no doubt that your premeditated callous and humiliating handcuffing and detention of Mr Carlsen shocked, degraded and traumatised him.

"He was deprived of his liberty and human dignity without warning or proper explanation to him of its purpose, length or purported justification."

The star was sentenced to 15 months behind bars and ordered to pay $7,250 (£5,000) costs.

O'Dowd's solicitor, Steven Barker, says, "George is on the road to recovery, I sincerely hope this sentence does not knock him back." (LR&CL/WNWCCB/ZN)