‘Disabled’ cheat caught working as a postman
FRAUDSTER CLAIMED MORE THAN £30K AND SPENT CASH ON SEASON TICKET TO WATCH CITY
A POSTMAN swindled more than £30,000 in disability benefits while working his rounds – and splashed the cash on a City season ticket.
Anthony Linaker claimed problems with his deformed hips were so intense that he struggled getting out of bed and dressing himself, and even needed help going to the toilet.
But the 46-year-old father was a postman, working up to five-hour rounds, enjoying family trips to the beach and watching his football club.
Linaker was caught out after surveillance footage taken by the Department of Work and Pensions investigators showed him delivering mail.
Derby Crown Court heard how he had fraudulently claimed a total of £33,087.55 disability living allowance since 2012. He was jailed for 26 weeks by Judge Jonathan Bennett after pleading guilty last month to two matters of dishonest representation for the obtaining of benefit, disability living allowance.
The judge told him: “Benefits are meant for those who need help. We live in times of austerity, the public purse is extremely tight and sometimes people who claim benefits are disparaged as scroungers.
“You are of previous good character, but this is not a question of you exaggerating claims, you told down-right lies.
“You have a very long-standing condition with your hips and arthritis, but you had a partially-successful operation.
“We came across surveillance footage and there are pictures of you on a beach having fun with the family and the kids, which people claiming benefit can’t do. I am going to give you a custodial sentence.”
Christopher Jeyes, prosecuting, said Linaker, now of Languard Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, claimed benefits between April 2009 and May 2017. The false claims began in June 2012.
“He had a hip replacement in 2010 and had a leg brace,” Mr Jeyes said. “He claimed disability living allowance and he said he needed help to get in bed, help going to the toilet, help washing and drying himself, assisted in the bath or shower. “He also said he had difficulty getting out of his chair and his vehicle. It transpired these claims were untrue. “He was a season ticket holder at Manchester City and attended football matches regularly. He was employed as a postman, but he is no longer working 40 hours a week. “He was given some time off for the hip replacement. He was allowed to sit down when sorting post and he was capable of sorting for 2.5 hours and was bending to do so. He also delivered mail five hours per day.” Nicola Hunter, mitigating, stated that Linaker was sorry for what he had done. She said: “He is 46 years old and has had deformed hips since his childhood. Coupled with that, he has osteoarthritis which causes him a lot of pain. “He has a wife and a daughter. He has no previous convictions. “His mother died last year and he has been grieving for her and been stressed about these proceedings. “He has lost his job, lost his home and is on ESA PJudge Jonathan Bennett and is paying the DWP back £60 a week off his own back.”