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Benefit cheat was pall bearer
A benefit cheat made a grave mistake conning taxpayers out of almost £29,000 by claiming he was too ill to work – while he had a job as a pall bearer.
Vincent Storey worked at a funeral directors for seven years and topped-up his earnings by fraudulently claiming 327 in incapacity benefits every month.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard checks by the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) revealed that while he was raking in the cash from his job, between April 2001 and August 2008 he claimed a staggering 28,782 in benefits.
Diabetic Storey had legitimately claimed benefits when he initially stopped working, but then got a job as a driver and pall bearer at a funeral directors while continuing to claim state handouts.
The 61-year-old, of Treecone Close, Doxford Park, Sunderland, was interviewed by DWP investigators and admitted falsely claiming benefits, the court was told.
The judge sentenced Storey, who is single and has no family, to 16 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work.
The judge ordered him to pay back the cash he falsely claimed to the DWP.
Storey told the court he would be able to make the payments, but would have to remortgage his home to stump up some of the cash.
DWP bosses today said they hoped the sentence served as a warning to other benefit cheats who consider stealing from society, adding that all cash falsely claimed will always have to be paid back in full.
John Carter, DWP regional fraud manager, said: "Benefit thieves take money intended for the most vulnerable in our society.
"Quite rightly the public get angry about such antisocial behaviour, and with their support we are closing in on these thieves.
"Anyone who suspects someone is committing benefit theft can call us on our hotline."
If you know someone committing benefit fraud, call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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