According to WalesOnline, William Blackmore, 60, of Llanrumney, Cardiff, admitted 37 counts of falsely claiming benefits while working full-time as a labourer and driver for Scimitar Construction Ltd between 1998 and 2007.
At Cardiff Crown Court, Blackmore was given a 36-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service. He has also been ordered to pay back ВЈ21,557.05. minus ВЈ207 he has paid already, in ВЈ50 weekly instalments. It will take nine years to pay the balance in full.
When Blackmore failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions about his change of circumstances, he “simply buried his head in the sand” according to Helen Roddick, mitigating. “Initially this was a genuine claim in May of 1998 when he was not working.
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“However, of course, the defendant is realistic that the offence was made over a long period of time and there was plenty of opportunity during that time to put the matter right.”
Recorder Christopher Clee QC, sentencing, said: “You know that you should not have been receiving this money and it is not the first time you have done it. Can I suggest that you do pay this money back.”
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