BOY GEORGE REFUSES TO SWEEP

It seemed Boy George had managed to save a humiliating fate by cutting a deal to avoid prison after the whole "ooh, come here police, oh, that's not my cocaine" business. Hed admitted wasting police time, and got landed with a spot of community service.

The former Sunday Express columnist, though, hasn't yet turned up to pay his debt to New York society. He's trying to land himself a cushy job, as, well, sweeping streets would be like some kind of punishment:

Judge Ferrara went as far as to issue an arrest warrant for O'Dowd because he did not appear in person to explain why he had refused to begin his community service.

However, he said he would not order an arrest until next week's hearing, giving O'Dowd a further opportunity to attend the court.

He also ridiculed the singer's proposals to help teenagers create a public service announcement, stage a fashion and make-up workshop and play a DJ set at a benefit for Aids sufferers.

Lawyer Louis Freeman said O'Dowd hoped to do something other than sweeping pavements.

"There's nothing wrong with that if that's part of his punishment, but it will turn into a media circus, and the press will be following him every day," he said.

The judge said he understood the objection to street cleaning - "it's humiliation," he conceded - but claimed O'Dowd "took a deal that had an element of humiliation".

"I put people in jail who don't pay fines", he said. "Why shouldn't I do that?"

The best bit is that Boy George - a man who colours in his neck with a Sharpie to try and hide his multiple chin effect - could helpfully offer the people of the State make-up tip. Although the belief that the press would be following him around every day if he was sweeping streets is also a fine spot of self-delusion, too.

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