Shropshire benefits cheat ordered to pay back £25,000
A pensioner has been spared jail after he admitted claiming almost £25,000 of benefits that he was not entitled to.
Robin Clark, 68, from Caldecott Crescent, Whitchurch, admitted two charges of failing to notify Shropshire Council and the Department of Work and Pensions of changes to his circumstances relating to his council tax and pension payments.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Judge Robin Onions sentenced Clark to 16 weeks in prison for each offence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to pay back the money. He also placed Clark under a curfew order from 6pm to 6am for three months and ordered him to be electronically tagged for that time.
Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Clark had been overpaid by £20,672.64 in pension credit and £4,093.11 in council tax benefits, both of which were means tested, between 2006 and 2011.
"Mr Clark said he had no income and was not working, and in June 2009 when he had a review of his benefits he again indicated he was not in work or had any other form of income," Mr Jones said.
"However, information was received that he was working and his bank statements were sourced. The DWP noted that there was income coming in from two occupational pensions and from an unknown source."
He admitted that he had been working as a driver for a company which had since gone bankrupt.
Mr Jones said Clark had now repaid the council tax benefits, but that the pension credit was still outstanding. Judge Onions said: "I have no wish to send a man of 68 to prison but it seems likely that he will lose his savings and raise the rest of the money somehow, and that sadly may mean his house has to be sold."
Speaking for Clarke, Mr Simon Parry said: "He is deeply ashamed of what he's done and through me wishes to apologise."
