Falmouth benefit cheat played golf and drove taxisA £7,000 BENEFITS cheat who claimed disability stopped him doing basic tasks such as feeding himself was caught playing golf and driving taxis.
Magistrates heard that for more than three years John Earnest Caulkin, 39, of Webber Hill Flats in Falmouth, was receiving disability allowance.
He had told the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) he needed help seven days a week as he could not get out of a seat unaided or tend to his own personal hygiene, cooking or feeding.
But between December 2008 and May last year he played golf and went tenpin bowling, worked as a taxi driver, at Sainsbury's supermarket unloading lorries and stacking shelves, and as a barman.
Caulkin appeared at Truro Magistrates' Court on Monday after claiming nearly £7,000 in benefits he was not entitled to.
When interviewed by the DWP, he told them he had not reported his change in circumstances because he had "good days and bad days" and disputed his condition had changed to any extent. But in court he pleaded guilty to failing to promptly notify the DWP of the change of circumstances which he knew would affect his entitlement to Disability Living Allowance, namely that his capabilities had improved.
Altogether he claimed £6,900.85 to which he was not entitled, said Graham Calderwood, for the prosecution.
He said Caulkin had claimed he needed help and private care frequently throughout the day and in planning and preparing meals, for his personal hygiene, and also suffered from a lack of concentration.
Mr Calderwood said: "Evidence became available he worked as a taxi driver doing school contracts, private hire jobs and taxi work doing a full range of duties, carrying luggage, maintaining vehicles and he was working as a team leader at a supermarket on shop work, working nights, unloading lorries and stacking shelves, and working as a barman. He has played golf and tenpin bowling."
A DWP spokesman said: "He said on his form that he could not get out of a seat or bed unaided, could not cut up his own food or grip anything and would like to play golf and go tenpin bowling but could not.
"In the interview he said it took him days to complete the original application form, but admitted he no longer received any help with his personal care and agreed his condition had changed."
Caulkin, who has previous convictions for shoplifting, dishonest handling and theft, was given a community order for a year with 100 hours of unpaid work. He was told to pay £150 costs.
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