Benefit cheat delivered pizzas while claiming he could hardly walk

A cheat who claimed who could hardly walk while delivering pizzas has been found guilty of a £28,000 benefit fraud. (h/t Dave)

Greg Phillips, aged 51, worked for Domino’s Pizza among a string of physical jobs while claiming Disability Living Allowance for five years.

But he had told the DWP he could hardly walk and was often housebound with a bad back.

Phillips has avoided a prison sentence after he was convicted by a jury in a trial at Plymouth Crown Court.

But he could lose his career as a registered nurse and faces further court action to seize assets to repay the £28,469 he swindled.

Phillips, from Plympton, went on trial after denying dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting his claim for DLA between January 2012 and January 2017.

He did not promptly tell the department that his health had improved since he applied in 2010.

But a jury found Phillips guilty by a unanimous verdict after two hours of deliberations.

Sentencing hours later with the aid of a probation report, a judge suspended his prison sentence, stating his age, good character and charity work.

Judge James Townsend told him: “You have been convicted by a jury of doing something which was extremely foolish and wrong. Offences of this sort are so serious because they take money not only from the taxpayer but more importantly from others who have a greater need.”

Phillips delivered pizzas and worked as shift manager for the Plympton branch of Domino’s through 2015.

Emily Cook, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said that prosecutors were launching further court action to seize the outstanding sum of £27,699. He is already repaying the overpaid amount at £55 a month – a rate which will take years to settle. Investigators will look to seize any assets, including property.

Judge Townsend said that Phillips, a registered nurse, had to report his conviction to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and faced being struck off.

The court heard that he had worked in two city residential care homes and had visited clients with care needs in their home for a community provider.

Barrister Katie Churcher, for Phillips, said his health had deteriorated since 2015. He has lumbar spondylosis or a “crumbling spine”. A previous trial was cancelled in February because he was in hospital and he is now far less mobile.

Miss Churcher said: “He worked really hard and was highly regarded by his peers. He has done a lot of good work for charity.”

Judge Townsend gave him a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He added the defendant could not do unpaid work and said a curfew might restrict his ability to find paid employment in the future.

Source with picture