Boy George Learnt To Like Himself In Prison

Boy George says prison helped him to like himself again.

The 'Do You Really want To Hurt Me' singer spent four months in jail - after being convicted of the assault and false imprisonment of male escort Audun Carlsen in December 2008 - and admits his time behind bars gave him a chance to reflect on his life.

He said: "That gave me a really strong place from which to encounter it. I got a job in the kitchen, had my own cell and made friends. I had to get used to being with me, learn to sort of like myself again.

"That's the most terrifying thing about prison. I was only there about four months, but when it was time to go home I was thinking: 'Oh my God, I've got to go out of here and deal with my life. I am not sure I want to leave!'

"Once you get clear and get your head screwed on, you see the potential. You look at what you are doing and your behaviour. There was a big shift In Me. I just thought, 'You are f**king around. And you can't any more.'" George - who has been sober for over two years - admits he's done a lot of bad things in his past but now only concentrates on the present.

He told The Observer newspaper: "It doesn't matter what has happened in my life. Right now, I am proud of myself. That's a great place to be. A really wonderful place to be."