Former stuntman Evel Knievel has been sentenced to an eternity in Hell due to wrongful interpretation of his ethical affiliations, it has been revealed.

"He strapped himself to rockets and leaped canyons on a motorcycle but survived until old age. Usually when we see this sort of thing we just assume they have a contract with the someone down in the Lower Realms," commented on Heaven official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

After-life staff claim there is little that can be done for Mr Knievel at this late stage.

"Ask any Christian - God is a fairly literal being," commented St. Peter. "You can't go about calling yourself "evil" for half a century and think we'll understand. Privately, I thought the name was of particular poor taste."

"The plaintiff can, of course, appeal, but I'm afraid there are 10,000,000,000,000 others in the queue ahead of him, so he could be waiting around until Judgment Day before his case is investigated.

"Judgment Day. Get it? Just a little joke," St. Peter added.