Boy George cocaine charge dropped

Eighties pop icon Boy George has had a charge of possessing cocaine dropped by a New York court.

The star admitted wasting police time over an incident last October, and was sentenced to five days of community service and fined $1,000 (£575), reports the BBC.

The 44-year old, whose real name is George O'Dowd, pleaded guilty today (March 8) to falsely reporting a burglary at the hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court.

The singer was ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation programme.
Judge Anthony Ferrarar warned the defendant, who attended the hearing, that he would have a criminal record which "never goes away".

The singer must also pay court costs of $160 dollars (£91).
In a statement released after the hearing, Boy George said: "I am relieved and happy that this case has been disposed of.

"I love New York and I'm looking forward to coming back and working in the States later this year."

Boy George was arrested after police were called to his Manhattan apartment. He was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance after his arrest, after the discovery of cocaine in the apartment.