OZZY OSBOURNE is raging after learning his name was used as part of an elaborate sting operation to trap deadbeat dads and custody dodgers in North Dakota.

  Fargo sheriff Paul D. Laney and his team sent out bogus invites to 40 rock fans on their state wanted list, asking them to join Ozzy and touring partner Rob Zombie for a drink before the pair's city show on Monday (29Oct07).

But, instead of meeting the rock stars, those who attended the `meet-and-greet' met police officers, who handcuffed them.

The authorities have spent much of the week congratulating themselves for a job well done, but Osbourne isn't cheering - because they used his name to trap fans without his permission. In a statement, Osbourne reveals he was particularly annoyed when he discovered Sheriff Laney had held a congratulatory press conference.

The former Black Sabbath star says, "Instead of holding a press conference to pat himself on the back, Sheriff Laney should be apologising to me for using my name in connection with these arrests. "Sheriff Laney went out of his way to tarnish my reputation by implying that I somehow attract a criminal element, which is certainly not true. "My audiences are good, hard-working people who have been hugely supportive of my music for nearly four decades."

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