Taxi Driver Online

March 21, 2008 Friday

Star Edition

FRAUD MY NEXT TRICK;

ILLUSIONIST ON BENEFIT WAS WELL ENOUGH TO LIE ON BED OF NAILS

MAGICIAN Nigel Hardman may have dazzled audiences with his illusions but he failed to trick fraud investigators that he was too ill to work.

Hardman drew incapacity benefit but, billed as Prince Razaq, burst out of straitjackets, lay on a bed of nails and swallowed swords.

He also raked in thousands in council tax and housing benefits while his stage act - which included sawing his wife in half - was so good it won a TV talent contest.

Digby Johnson, defending, said: "He found he had a natural bent for dangerous forms of entertainment and became quite adept at it."

But investigators saw past the smoke and mirrors and Hardman, 40, admitted 11 fraud charges yesterday. Blackpool magistrates heard he falsely claimed pounds 18,000 while earning pounds 10,000 a year. They told him to wear a tag for six months and observe a night curfew.

The ex-civil servant, of Kirkham, Lancs, also ran a limo business. But after a series of setbacks he clocked up debts of pounds 100,000.
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