Profile: Barry George

Barry George once pretended he was in the SAS

Barry George, who has launched a second appeal against his conviction for the murder of BBC TV presenter Jill Dando, led a fame-obsessed youth.

A serial fantasist, he claimed over the years to be British karate champion, an SAS soldier, and singer Freddie Mercury's cousin.

During his 2001 trial for Jill Dando's murder, his Walter Mitty streak and history of psychological problems came to the fore and he was portrayed as a dangerous loner.

Despite losing his first appeal against conviction the following July, he continued to protest his innocence, insisting: "I did not murder Jill Dando and I believe that one day the truth will come out."

Born on 15 April 1960 in Hammersmith, west London, George's difficult childhood in a broken home perhaps fuelled his yearning for a more glamorous life.

Attempted rape

He told the local newspaper he was the British karate champion and that he was planning to jump four buses on roller-skates. He also said he was actually called Paul Gadd, the real name for Gary Glitter, and managed three rock-groups.

He joined the Territorial Army and was a probationary member of a gun club - but told his friends he was really in the SAS. The TA and gun club soon rejected him.

He also claimed he was called Steve Majors after the actor Lee Majors and his TV character Steve Austin, the Bionic Man.

And George would stand in the street directing traffic, impersonating a policeman. He once announced he was a cousin of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

This disturbing but harmless behaviour took a violent turn in the 1980s when he assaulted a woman living in his tower-block and was jailed for attempted rape. Another neighbour was assaulted by him as well.

Gun obsession

George had a fascination with showbusiness, but a brief spell as a BBC messenger in 1976 was the closest he ever got to the big time. However, he continued to read the corporation's in-house magazine Ariel until his arrest.

George, who lived just half a mile from Miss Dando's home, also had an obsession with guns and was once arrested in combat gear outside the London home of Diana, Princess of Wales.

One psychologist claimed he craved attention more than anything, especially from women, and that shooting Jill Dando was the ultimate answer to that.

But many campaigners are convinced the wrong person is behind bars and that his oddball status made him the perfect scapegoat.

It remains to be seen whether his second appeal will lay these lingering doubts to rest.

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