November 25, 2008 18:00

Boy George trial: Male escort 'sold his story'

Audun Carlsen defends himself in court

A male escort who has accused Boy George of chaining him to his bedroom wall sold his story to a Norwegian magazine, a court has heard.

Audun Carlsen, 29, received £5,500 for the article which was published last May. He argued that he needed the money to flee the UK as he was "too scared", jurors at east London's Snaresbrook Crown Court heard this afternoon (November 25).

Mr Carlsen did not tell officers that he had spoken to a reporter days after the alleged attack, a charge he denies.

The male escort told the court: "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."

Following the incident he said he was "too scared to stay in the country" and wanted to go to Germany, reports BBC News.

As previously reported on NME.COM Boy George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, was accused of handcuffing and chaining Mr Carlsen up at his home in Shoreditch, east London, in April 2007.

The case continues.