The former Culture Club frontman looked a new man after the short, sharp shock of a jail term.
The Eighties pop star was said to be "overjoyed to be free again" after serving just four months of a 15-month sentence for imprisoning and beating a rent boy.
As he faced the prospect of jail in January, the singer, who has fought a long battle against drink and drugs, had the appearance of a man who had hit rock bottom.
Fellow inmates later revealed George, 48 - real name George O'Dowd - sobbed as he told how he feared for his life in prison.
But yesterday he appeared 2st lighter as he emerged from Edmunds Hill prison in Stradishall near Haverhill, Suffolk.
Gone were the heavy bags under his eyes and the sparkle seemed to have returned to them.
And he offered a cheery salute before an emotional reunion with his family who had waited for him for more than two hours outside the Category C jail.
As he stepped outside the prison gates sporting a neatly-trimmed greying goatee beard he said: "It's great to be out. It's a bit daunting, but it's nice. It went fine."
After his early release for good behaviour, George will be fitted with an electronic ankle tag to serve the remaining two-thirds of his sentence under curfew.
Photo: mirror.co.uk
Material quoted directly from: express.co.uk
