Law Weblog

Sentencing – Probation Service and the effect of a release on licence

Wednesday 23 December 2009 at 5:05 pm | In News | Post Comment The full effect of early release on licence from prison has been discovered by former Culture Club singer Boy George who failed in judicial review proceedings in the High Court to overturn a Probation Service ban preventing him appearing in the final series of “Celebrity Big Brother”.

The singer – real name George O’Dowd – served time in prison for handcuffing male escort Audun Carlsen to a wall in his London home in April 2007, but was released early.

Mr Justice Bean said,
“I consider that right-thinking members of the public would take the view that an offender serving the non-custodial part of a sentence of imprisonment should not be allowed to take part in a high profile, controversial television production, promoting his status as a celebrity and with considerable financial gain.”

Full judgment here