The former lead singer of one of the UK’s biggest heavy metal bands has been jailed for swindling £45,000 of tax payers’ money.
Paul Andrews – aka Paul Di’Anno – formally of Iron Maiden, was sentenced to nine months in jail for conning the five-figure sum while touring around the world, sometimes playing to crowds of 10,000 people.The former front man claimed he could no longer work as a result of injuries he sustained after performing a stage dive during a live show. But the singer was rumbled after videos of him performing with his more recent bands were posted on YouTube and spotted by investigators working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).According to the Guardian, James Newton-Price, prosecuting, told Salisbury Crown Court that Andrews claimed income support, housing benefit and council tax handouts despite touring between 2002 and 2008."His touring took him to Europe, India, Brazil, Canada, Russia, and Mexico,” he said. "There is footage on YouTube of over 50 live performances between 2004 and 2007. He admitted in an interview at one of his concerts in 2005 that he was living in Brazil for a time and that he played to crowds of 10,000 people."In his defence, Steven Ritter claimed Andrews displayed naivety when it came to money matters having received no formal education, and cared only for the welfare of his wife and child in the US and a daughter who lives in Venezuela.Sentencing, Jane Miller QC, said: "Your public persona is not relevant. Your greed has cost this country a lot of money. The claims were for a long time and for a large cost. It must be a custodial sentence."In 2002 you started claiming benefits when it was quite clear you were already working. It took many years to track you down. In 2007 you performed at 69 venues; in 2006 you performed 67 times."Iron Maiden formed in Leyton, east London, in 1975 and have since released 15 studio albums. The band won the Best British Live Act at the 2009 Brit Awards. Andrews, 52, was the first vocalist to record with the band during his three year tenure from 1978 to 1981.Manchester debt firm is liquidated owing creditors over £2.2m
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