Benefit fraudster told to sell fish

A benefit cheat pictured up a tree and on a zipwire while claiming he could barely walk has been told he must sell his Koi carp and coin collection to pay back money he fraudulently claimed.

Paul Stevens, 70, and wife Alexandra, 49, were both handed suspended sentences last year after they exaggerated Mr Stevens’ claims for Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment.

The couple, who had denied the offences but were convicted by a jury, told the Department for Work and Pensions Mr Stevens needed help bathing, cooking, getting dressed and claimed he could not walk for long distances.

However, images shown at the trial showed Mr Stevens enjoying himself on a zipwire, helping prune a tree using a saw and working in the front garden of the couple’s home in Clacton.

Mrs Stevens had previously worked as a a benefits fraud investigator and then a tax fraud investigator and in 2015 began helping her husband cut corners to earn extra money.

The pair were back at Chelmsford Crown Court for a proceeds of crime hearing where it was revealed Mr Stevens’ benefit figure - the amount the Crown Prosecution Service allege he has obtained as a result of criminal conduct - is £45,000 while Mrs Stevens’ is close to £17,000.

However, the figures do not include money which they were legally entitled to after Mr Stevens was injured at work. He began claiming disability benefits in 1995 for conditions including a degenerative bone disease.

John Livingston, prosecuting, said Mr Stevens had assets of £13,000 which does not include any equity in property, a coin collection estimated to be worth £10,000 and a shoal of Koi carp which were likely valued at £3,000.

There are also issues over the ownership of the marital home which is believed to be solely in Mrs Stevens’ name.

Mr Livingston alleged their home has increased in value by £13,900 since they bought it using fraudulently gained cash giving them a pecuniary advantage.

Judge David Turner QC urged Mr Stevens to get his collections valued “pretty darn quickly” ahead of a hearing in April which will determine how much the pair have to pay back.

He urged parties to come to an arrangement quickly about the amount owed so it could be resolved.

He added: “The last thing I want is more public money to be spent than the amount which is actually recovered. This has got to be resolved. The jurisdiction must be based in reality.”

Mr Stevens was jailed for nine months suspended for two years after being convicted of failing to notify a change of circumstances and of making dishonest representation to obtain benefit.

Mrs Stevens was handed a four month suspended term for dishonest representation to obtain benefit.

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