Wednesday, 23 December 2009

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Judge bans Boy George from appearing on Celebrity Big Brother

Probation Service happy with decision

Boy George was released from jail in May after serving four months of his 15-month sentence

Boy George will not be able to take part in Celebrity Big Brother in January.

The singer, real name George O'Dowd, was at London's High Court today to try to overturn a Probation Service ban on him appearing on the Channel 4 show.

But Justice Bean has upheld the original decision. He will outline his reasons later.

The Probation Service - which claimed Boy George's participation could undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system - are pleased with the result.

‘We believe we made a common sense direction and this has been endorsed by the judge,' a spokesman tells the BBC.

‘We expect offenders to keep to their licence conditions which are in place to protect the public, punish offenders for their crime and aid rehabilitation.'

Boy George, 48, was jailed for 15 months for assault and false imprisonment of a rent boy in January.

The Culture Club star is currently on licence and wears an electronic tag because he was released from prison early.

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