British pop singer Boy George went on trial in London on Monday on charges that he held a male prostitute hostage in 2007.

The singer handcuffed a male escort to the wall of his London home after accusing him of hacking into his computer, a court heard on Monday at the start of his trial on false imprisonment charges.

Male hustler Audun Carlsen, 29, told a British court the former Culture Club star, 47, beat him up and handcuffed him following a nude photoshoot set up after the two met through a gay Web site.

“George was slapping me and beating me and punching me and screaming things.”