Di’Anno Jailed For Rock-N-Dole

Former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno has been jailed for nine months because he was playing solo gigs worldwide while claiming £45,479 in state handouts.

Di’Anno, whose real name is name Paul Andrews, was charged with fraudulently claiming income support, housing and council tax benefit between 2002 and 2008. Last year he was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport.

He was receiving benefits because he said a back injury prevented him from working, but on March 11 Salisbury Crown Court was shown videos of the 52-year-old leaping around on stage.

His lawyer told the court Di’Anno was naïve and had frittered away “several fortunes.”

He said he cared about was his wife and son in the U.S. and daughter in Venezuela.

“Your greed has cost this country a lot of money,” said Judge Jane Miller. “The claims were for a long time and for a large cost. It must be a custodial sentence.”

Di’Anno was with Iron Maiden in 1978-1981, before Bruce Dickinson joined the band and took it to international fame.