Boy George is on trial in London for false imprisonment from an April 2007 incident where he allegedly chained a male escort to the wall of his house and beat him with a metal chain.

Auden Carlson says he originally met George O'Dowd (Boy George's given name) through a website and agreed to a naked photo shoot at O'Dowd's apartment. In the time after the first encounter, Carlson says O'Dowd sent him regular e-mails accusing him of hacking into his computer. Even with the harassment, Carlson agreed to return for a second photo session.

According to Carlson, when he arrived for the second session, O'Dowd and another man held him down and beat him, followed by chaining him to a wall. "George was slapping me and beating me and punching me and screaming things."

Carlson was eventually able to unscrew one of the hooks on which he was held and ran out the door while O'Dowd continued to hit him with the chain. Photographic evidence was introduced showing the welts and marks on his body.

O'Dowd is denying the charge.