Boy George denies false imprisonment charge

By Andrew Hough

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Singer Boy George appeared in a London court on Thursday to deny charges that he falsely imprisoned a male escort.

The former Culture Club frontman, real name George O'Dowd, was ordered to stand trial later this year, where he will fight claims that he chained escort Audun Carlsen, 28, to a wall.

The offence is alleged to have taken place at the 1980s pop star's Shoreditch, East London home, in April last year.

A previous hearing was told the case centers on an "allegation of false imprisonment".

On Thursday the 46-year-old, dressed all in black and wearing sunglasses, pleaded not guilty during the brief hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court, East London.

George was then ordered to stand trial at the same court in November. It is expected to last five days.

He left the court without making any comment.

George, who remains on bail -- with the condition that he cannot contact the alleged victim -- left Culture Club in the late 1990s, before briefly trying a solo career.