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Legal
Former Maiden frontman jailed for benefit fraud
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 14 March 2011
One time Iron Maiden frontman Paul Di’Anno has been jailed for nine months after being found guilty of fraudulently claiming $67,500 in welfare benefits.
Di’Anno, who preceded Bruce Dickinson as Maiden frontman, fronting the metal outfit in their early years up to 1981, was shown to have claimed income support and housing and council tax benefit between 2002 and 2008 despite continuing to perform under the moniker Di’Anno during that period, earning from his live activity.
The rocker seemingly claimed he was only being paid expenses for his gigs, but the courts did not accept that was the case.
Before sentencing Di’Anno to nine months, Judge Jane Miller QC said: “Your greed has cost this country a lot of money. The claims were for a long time and for a large cost… It took many years to track you down. In 2007 you performed at 69 venues, in 2006 you performed 67 times. I do not accept you only got expenses”.
