Benefit cheat taxi driver from Brixham admits illegally claiming thousandsA BRIXHAM taxi driver earned hundreds of pounds a week while claiming thousands of pounds in benefits, a court has been told.
Royston Gwinnell, 46, took home up to £323 pounds a week in wages while at the same time claiming housing and council tax benefit.
In total he defrauded the public purse of £4,181 over a period of 15 months.
Prosecutor Michael McCabe told magistrates in Torquay: “This offence is a multiple fraud with multiple payments committed over a significant period of time.
“It is a serious fraud on the public purse when the family coffers were already swelled by earnings.”
Gwinnell admitted failing to notify Torbay Council of a change of circumstances affecting his entitlement to housing and council tax benefit.
The court was told that he worked for between 15 and 52 hours a week for Brixham Taxis, earning between £93 and £323.
A computer programme used by Torbay Council flagged up a possible issue with his claims and investigators questioned Gwinnell about them.
He told them he only worked 10 hours a week but investigations proved this was not true.
“The only possible explanation for not notifying the council was his benefit would have been cut,” said Mr McCabe.
Mr McCabe said the cost of the prosecution came from council tax coffers and asked for a contribution of £400.
Mervyn Williams, mitigating, said Gwinnell had a heart problem and suffered from sleep apnea.
He said the defendant had started out making a legitimate claim and carried on in ‘part ignorance’ of the law.
“He is aware he will have to pay all the money back,” said Mr Williams.
Gwinnell, the court was told, had no problems with drink or drugs and now worked as a radio operator.
Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report. Gwinnell, of Drew Street, Brixham, was granted unconditional bail until March 18.
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