A male escort who claims he was assaulted by Boy George sold his story to a Norwegian magazine so that he could flee the UK, a court has heard.

Audun Carlsen said he was “too scared” to remain in the country after Boy George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, handcuffed him to a wall in his house after suspecting he had hacked his personal computer.

Mr Carlsen did not tell police that he received £5,500 from a reporter in return for discussing the alleged attack.

But he denied he had not been “straightforward” with authorities.

"I told the police everything that I had received (money) when the story came out,” Mr Carlsen said, as the trial moved into a second day.

"The reason I gave this interview was because of all the things that were written, for the sake of my family."

O'Dowd pleaded not guilty to the charges in February.

On Monday, Mr Carlsen said O'Dowd chained him up to a wall in his house in Shoreditch in April last year.

The escort freed himself from the restraints before fleeing the singer's home in his boxer shorts and a pair of handcuffs.

The court was told that Carlsen managed to make it to a local newsagents who alerted the police.

The pair first met each other after making contact on the social networking portal Gaydar.

The trial continues.

(by Jason Gregory)