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16/03/2012
1960s Pop Star Cleared Of Benefit Fraud
1960s pop star PJ Proby has been cleared of benefit fraud after the prosecution dropped its case following the discovery of new evidence.
The 73-year-old performer, of Twyford, near Evesham in Worcestershire, was acquitted of nine counts after prosecutors found documents relating to the case in an office in Doncaster.
Coming nine-days into an expected three-week trial Prody was found not guilty on the directions of Judge John Cavell. Prody had yet to give his own evidence.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had alleged PJ Proby cheated the benefits system out of more than £47,000 after informing the authorities he had just £5 in his bank account.
However prosecutor Nicholas Smith told the court the DWP had decided to offer no evidence against the singer-songwriter after reviewing the newly discovered material.
Smith told the court: "Had the prosecution department (of the DWP) been aware of it, we may well have taken a different view in the trial of the matter. It's the Crown's decision that we intend to offer no evidence on each of the counts."
Having taken the new material into consideration, the prosecution decided there was no realistic prospect of Proby being convicted, Smith added.
(H)
The 73-year-old performer, of Twyford, near Evesham in Worcestershire, was acquitted of nine counts after prosecutors found documents relating to the case in an office in Doncaster.
Coming nine-days into an expected three-week trial Prody was found not guilty on the directions of Judge John Cavell. Prody had yet to give his own evidence.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had alleged PJ Proby cheated the benefits system out of more than £47,000 after informing the authorities he had just £5 in his bank account.
However prosecutor Nicholas Smith told the court the DWP had decided to offer no evidence against the singer-songwriter after reviewing the newly discovered material.
Smith told the court: "Had the prosecution department (of the DWP) been aware of it, we may well have taken a different view in the trial of the matter. It's the Crown's decision that we intend to offer no evidence on each of the counts."
Having taken the new material into consideration, the prosecution decided there was no realistic prospect of Proby being convicted, Smith added.
(H)
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