Taxi Driver Online

Winsford benefit claimant worked as a taxi driver



A MAN who worked as a taxi driver while receiving income support was among two Winsford residents to plead guilty to benefit fraud charges.

Ernest Lumsden, 61, of Cotswold Way appeared before Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, May 29.

He pleaded guilty to four offences of failing to promptly notify CWAC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change in his circumstances regarding his employment.

Lumsden failed to declare paid employment with two separate taxi companies, and was overpaid in excess of £25,000 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, and given a 24 month supervision order.

Lumsden is also required to fully repay the overpaid benefit to CWAC and the DWP.

A second Winsford resident also appeared before magistrates.

Tracy Pallett, 45, of Hawthorn Grove, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to promptly declare a change in her circumstances to CWAC which she knew would affect her entitlement to housing and council tax benefit.

Pallet failed to inform CWAC that her partner was residing with her.

She was overpaid in excess of £34,000 in benefits and sentenced to 15 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. Pallett is also under a two-year supervision order where she has to attend a SAFE programme, and is required to fully repay the overpaid benefit to CWAC.

Executive member for resources, clr Les Ford, said: “The council is committed to uncovering benefit fraud, which in these cases, amounted to a very large sum of public money that can now be recovered.

“This sort of offence is theft and will not be tolerated and the council will always pursue any attempt at fraud.

“I am pleased that these prosecutions have been successful and hope that it will serve as a warning to others that benefit fraud will not be tolerated in West Cheshire at the expense of the borough’s law-abiding tax payers.”

If you think someone you know is claiming benefit that they are not entitled to, call 0300 123 7030 or email fraud@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk All information received is treated in confidence.

source: http://www.winsfordguardian.co.uk/news/ ... xi_driver/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Now he has a conviction, he will now be declared not fit and proper, so will loose his badge, so how can he repay the money when on the dole?????

Thats Easy he will now claim benifit again so it will be put on hold..

He could also say feck it, not pay a thing go to jail for 9 weeks, or how ever long he gets for none repayment, at the tax payers expense and not have another thing to pay
Mind you there is always the means test, sorry your honor can only afford a pound a week

please jump though hoop but without using you legs

pay proper wages and people wont have to con the system

Maybe he never will, but TBH I'm glad he has been banged up and will never drive a cab again.

Maybe (part 2) it will be a deterrent to others in the trade, and if so the money saved will easily outstrip the money this mush owes.

As an aside, this is one of the reasons so many people down here are against compulsory CCTV.

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IDFIMH

Why fiddle the sytem, when at that age he could legally claim benefits, Working Tax Credit! Rent and rate rebates, the lot. Keep driving and not go to jail!

I discovered recently that one of my drivers was claiming unemployment benefit when i received a letter asking for info he promptly signed off and applied for working tax credit or whatever it's called these days they have asked him to repay only about £200 we shall see what happens but what a stupid thing to do the staff from the job centre walk past the rank every day !!!!

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I think you still have to repay the money after jail.

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Grandad,

I think you still have to repay the money after jail.[/quote]

Dont be silly that would mean someone used common sence .. not in there job title.

Proves my point; why sign on when you can legally work and get benefits? You get WTC until retirement age!

The problem is with this driver he had major debt problems resulting from a period of not being on a board just working the rank he went to the CAB who arranged a debt relief order with the people he owed money ( council rent and rates mostly) to but there were conditions attached and that was he was advised to stop driving taxis and sign on but what did he do he signed on and continued driving

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

We've got them all down here, people who are dragging a state pension and working, people who are claiming Disability and have a Motability car for free, people who are living at 2 addresses so they can claim twice the list goes on.

When the Council are out pulling they all disappear like rats up a drainpipe.

That is not illegal providing their earnings are declared. I have 2 drivers and one chaperone who are on state pensions. They are on the books and they pay income tax but not national insurance. Their pensions are classed as earnings so they pay a bigger percentage of income tax overall.

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Grandad,

These are self employed so aren't on the books. One has retired twice but keeps coming back, he's obviously earning to much money, he's another one who's got a Motability car parked on the drive. His missus works cash in hand at the local boozer.