Tomb Raider Tune Trouble: Composer Peter Connelly Jailed Over COVID Loan Shenanigans
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Peter Connelly, the legendary Tomb Raider composer, is facing jail time after being found guilty of fraudulently claiming a second COVID loan, putting a sour note on an otherwise impressive career.
Right, so this is a bit grim. Peter Connelly, the bloke responsible for some of the most iconic *Tomb Raider* soundtracks (we're talking *The Last Revelation*, *Chronicles*, and *The Angel of Darkness*, back in the Core Design days), has been banged up for 16 months. Ouch.
According to a press release from the UK's Insolvency Service – and those guys *love* a dramatic headline, apparently using words like 'JAILED' in big, shouty fonts – Connelly overstated his company's turnover to snag a second Bounce Back Loan during the pandemic. For those not in the know, these loans were meant to help small businesses stay afloat, but you were only supposed to get one. Connelly already had one loan for £22,000 from a different bank a month prior, then he managed to secure an additional £37,500. Blimey.
The Insolvency Service's chief investigator, David Snasdell, didn't mince words, stating that Connelly "blatantly disregarded the rules." Fair enough, I reckon.
Now, here's where it gets a bit more… well, human. Connelly told investigators he'd landed a potentially lucrative gig re-imagining the *Tomb Raider* soundtrack (sounds interesting, that) and had even taken out personal loans and flogged his car to get the project moving. But then, boom, pandemic hits, and everything stalled. His company, Peter Connelly Limited, went into liquidation in August 2021 without repaying either loan. Double ouch.
He previously agreed to an Individual Voluntary Arrangement to pay back his debts, but the court wasn't having any of it. Found guilty of fraud, the 52-year-old is not only doing time but also banned from being a company director for six years. Crikey.
Beyond *Tomb Raider*, Connelly's also lent his sound design talents to the likes of *Watch Dogs*, *The Crew*, *South Park: The Fractured but Whole*, and even the relatively recent *Dead Island 2*. So, a pretty prolific career cut short by, well, some dodgy dealings. A cautionary tale, eh?
Tags: Tomb Raider, Peter Connelly, Fraud, Game Music, Insolvency Service
Original article: Eurogamer