Lawyer denies £60k disability benefit fraud
A LAWYER who received £60,000 in disability benefits after claiming he could barely walk was caught out when he became ‘particularly elated’ when he won a case, a court heard.
Dr Alan Blacker, 47, was filmed by investigators ‘moving with ease’ following a crown court trial victory, even though he said he was only able to walk with ‘much intrepidity, pain and fear of falling after only 20 yards,’ it is alleged.
Dr Blacker, who also goes by the name Lord Harley, helped construct a miniature railway and was seen engaged in First
Aid training while claiming state benefits between September 1997 and October 2015, a jury heard.
The solicitor advocate, from Rochdale, was said to have claimed disability living allowance, including a highrate mobility component which is usually applicable to claimants who have no legs or feet from birth or due to amputation, jurors were told.
In one claim form in 1998 he is said to have written: “My whole life centres around avoiding pain, I cannot carry on... without it really impacting me and causing me real pain. I am not able to keep my focus on any other thing. “I started with these problems in 1996. I have problems with self-care. “These problems cause a risk to my life.” Chloe Fordham, prosecuting, told Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester that Dr Blacker failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions his condition had improved.
She said: “Witnesses describe many circumstances where he was engaged in a number of actions such as First Aid training, which requires physical actions and the construction of a model railway. “He was seen walking up and down stairs and getting into and out of vehicles without difficulty. He was seen to use a stick but there was nobody helping him standing or walking. “He believed he was someone who was entitled to retain his benefits but the prosecution say he was dishonest about the changes in his circumstances in order to continue to claim disability living allowance.
“The high rate mobility component is available to people who cannot walk at all, or have no legs or feet from birth or due to amputation. They can only walk short distances before being in severe discomfort or endangering their life. ‘’The defendant said he needed someone for ‘physical support,’ for getting to the bathroom, and had a problem keeping his balance.’’
DWP officials arrested and quizzed Dr Blacker after filming him during a trial at Cardiff Crown Court in 2014.
Ms Fordham added: ‘‘He said he practised law through a charity and not for financial gain and was shown footage. He told them he won a crown court case on behalf of a client and became particularly elated but it must have been
Prosecutor Chloe Fordham clear to Alan Blacker that once he was able to move around, he should have informed those facts to the DWP. “But he knew this would affect his entitlement.
The DWP stopped Dr Blacker’s benefits in 2016 following a review. Dr Blacker denies benefit fraud. Proceeding