Builder claimed £6,163 illegally

A BUILDER fraudulently claimed more than £6,000 in benefits out of “pure greed”.

Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard Spencer Wright, 37, of Pentrebane Road, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify of a change in circumstances.

The court heard he claimed £6,163.18 in employment and support allowance over 11 months.

But in that time an investigation discovered “about £45,000” had gone through his account. He had been in receipt of benefits for about five years.

The court heard he had earned about £20 a week working as a builder. But Judge Bodfan Jenkins pointed out this left a large amount unaccounted for.

Alex Dubljevic, prosecuting, said: “As regards the larger amount going through the defendant’s account, because of the limited background I can’t advise the court of any other inquiries that would have been made about the amounts going in as benefits, and the far greater amount, and what was the source of that.”

Sarah Grace, defending, sought credit for her client because he had pleaded guilty.

“He had not been working for a number of years because of back problems and depression,” she said. Ms Grace said he then accepted work. “He has now made efforts to recompense with the DWP, and he is in gainful employment and is keen to put this matter behind him,” Ms Grace said.

She told the court her client had “put his offending behaviour behind him”.

Sentencing Wright to 160 hours’ community service, Judge Jenkins called the offence one of “pure greed.”

“I suspect you were making a great deal of deal of money in addition to this fraud,” he said.

“What you have done here is take from institutions or people much more deserving of money. placed elsewhere.

“It seems to me regrettable I am not asked to make an order for compensation so it can be repaid at a rate much faster than the £15 a week you have currently agreed with the department.”

Previous convictions for burglary and taking without consent were not considered to seriously aggravate the offence. The sentence was reduced by a third because of Wright’s guilty plea.

“I’m not ordering compensation because there is no claim before me,” Judge Jenkins added. That could have been