Grandad squirrels away money, claims benefits

A grandad has been spared prison after committing benefit fraud by failing to disclose he had money in the bank while pocketing handouts.

Kevin Raisbeck hoped to keep money from the sale of a house as a nest egg for his children and grandchildren and failed to tell the DWP or the council.

As a result he received more than £20,000 in benefits he was not entitled to, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Now the 57-year-old, who was using a walking stick when he appeared in court, has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Prosecutor Andrew Walker told the court: "The indictment covers a period from November 2015, when he was getting various benefits he was not entitled to.

"He failed to disclose substantial capital assets, cash in various accounts, that would have reduced his entitlement to zero. There was an overpayment of housing benefit, income support and employment support allowance totalling £20,438."

Inquiries revealed Raisbeck had sold a property in November 2015 and was still in possession of some of the proceeds of the sale in various accounts.

Mr Walker said: "All of those should have been disclosed to the DWP or local authority but none were."

Raisbeck, from Dudley, North Tyneside, pleaded guilty to four benefit fraud charges on the basis that when he initially claimed, it was legitimate and he didn't have any assets.

He said the proceeds from the sale were used to pay off debts and he had put some money aside for his children and grandchildren for their futures.

Raisbeck, who has five previous convictions but nothing since 2007, was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months.

Recorder Dapinder Singh QC said Raisbeck had "buried his head in the sand" and added: "This was not a criminally, carefully planned, sophisticated operation from the outset.

"I have to mark the seriousness of this offending so other people don't think this kind of conduct is acceptable."

Penny Hall, defending, said: "He is not in good health, he has had back problems for many years and has had operations and that has led to mental health issues."

Miss Hall said he is the full time carer for his two adult children, who both have medical problems and may have had to go into care if he was locked up.

She added: "He is remorseful and says around that time, life was difficult."

The court heard Raisbeck has been paying back his ill-gotten gains at £30 a month.

So that's all right then?

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