NEW Romantic Steve Strange told a jury yesterday how a beggar beat him up and stole a bracelet given to him by Aussie pop star Kylie Minogue.

The Oakdale-born former frontman of the 80s idols Visage was battered on the head with a baseball bat or a knuckle-duster, causing an "immense amount" of bleeding, Inner London crown court heard.

His attacker then rifled his pockets and took the bracelet, a priceless present from the pop princess, the court was told.

Mr Strange, who gave his real name, Steve Harrington, was set upon after refusing to give £5 to a 17-year-old when approached in a street at 5am on March 7 last year, the jury was told.

It is claimed that a passing motorist saw the youth, who cannot be named, attack Mr Strange in Holborn, central London, after Mr Strange had completed a DJing session at the Caf de Paris.

Blood from Mr Strange was found on the youth's shoes when he was caught two days later, the court heard.

Mr Strange told the jury he was with a friend called Nick when the incident took place. Mr Strange said: "A guy came up to us and said he wanted a fiver. I do give money to the homeless quite often, but this character just seemed to be very aggressive.

"I just said, 'I am sorry, I don't have any money on me'. "Something went over my head. I turned to look, and something went into my hair. The next thing was I fell straight to the ground.

"I was concussed but I do remember a punch going to my face. There was an immense amount of blood everywhere.

"It felt like a cosh, or a baseball bat, or a knuckle-duster - a metal chain around the fist. "I felt someone going through my pockets. I had just been paid £200. He took my cheque-book, my mobile phone, credit card, and some jewellery.

"He took a bracelet off me which Kylie Minogue gave me for my birthday."

Mr Strange had eight stitches over his right eye, six in his forehead, and four above his lip. He also suffered a whiplash injury in the attack, the court heard. He told the jury: "I kept having recurring flashbacks."

The defendant, from Plaistow, east London, was arrested in Covent Garden two days later.

He denies robbery and causing grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.

PICTURED: Steve Strange and Kylie Minogue.