SADISTIC warlord Darth Maul is alive and kicking - and running a Cinema in Preston!

The deputy manager of Wanrer Village Cinemas - known in a previous life as Simon Capeling - has decided to take his fanatical love for Star Wars one step further, and give himself the same name as red-faced one in the forthcoming blockbuster film.

And following a visit to solicitors Sutcliffe Reed, Simon now shares the same name as the natiest baddie ever seen on a cinema screen.

Simon has always been a fan of Star Wars, but, unlike most people, who will settle for collecting a few figures, he has decided to make sure everyone knows about it, and now only answers to the name Darth.

Taking time from practising his new signature, Simon, sorry, Darth, said: "I've always been a big fan of all the Star Wars films, and with the new one expected to become one of the biggest movies of all time, I thought I could benefit from some of the publicity.

"It'll be really cool to be able to introduce myself as the real Darth Maul, although I'm not sure how my parents are going to take it!"

Darth, 25, from Avenham, has even sent memos instructed his staff to address him as Darth or Mr Maul, and has also had all of his documents changed to his new name, including his passport which could leave the Dark Lord of the Sith struggling to get away on holiday this year.

He mused: "If I go in full 'voodoo tomato' costume to the passport office, I'm sure I'll be able to jump to the front of the queue."

Simon made a visit to solicitors Sutcliffe Reed last Friday afternoon to fill in the necessary forms which will officially make him the baddest baddie in the universe!

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