Gay star avoids jail

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • June 26, 2006 - 0:00

The Culture Club singer, real name, George O'Dowd, was warned that he must keep to the terms of his sentence, which also involved him pleading guilty to wasting police time and paying a fine

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Gay singer Boy George has escaped a prison sentence after failing to complete community service stemming from a plea deal in which he avoided charges of cocaine possession by promising to enter a drug rehabilitation scheme.

The Culture Club singer, real name, George O'Dowd, was warned that he must keep to the terms of his sentence, which also involved him pleading guilty to wasting police time and paying a fine.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Anthony Ferrara said: "You have to do the community service,"

"It's up to you whether you make it an exercise in humiliation or in humility, if you don't do the community service, I'll make you a promise, You're going through that door," he said pointing to jail cells.

He was given until August 28 2006 to complete the community service. Mr O'Dowd said: "I never minding doing the community service," his lawyer claimed that the judge had misunderstood the situation.

The artist later joked, "I'm going to be teaching basketball in Harlem."

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