Benefits cheat ‘too weak to walk’ climbed Kilimanjaro
A BENEFITS cheat claimed £7,000 after stating he was too weak to walk more than 50m – then climbed Kilimanjaro, won two triathlons, and went wing-walking and skiing in the Alps.
Mark Lloyd, 33, a former paratrooper, was paid disability benefits after claiming a slipped disc in his back left him in “excruciating pain”.
However, his love of taking part in gruelling physical activities around the world was so well known he had the nickname “Action Man Mark”.
A court heard he used his benefits money to help fund action-filled outdoor adventures around the globe.
Chris Evans, prosecuting, said: “You’d be forgiven for thinking this was two different people. He set out in his claim forms he needs a walking aid and on a bad day he can’t bend and reach his knees. He said he can only walk between 20 and 50 metres, can’t walk on uneven ground, suffers pain when walking long distances and needs to sit down every 20 minutes.
“That does not tally up with the activities he was undertaking.”
The court heard Lloyd was medically discharged from the Army in 2011 after suffering injury to his lower back while serving in Afghanistan.
Lloyd, of Pontypridd, South Wales, was found guilty of fraud at Merthyr Tydfil magistrates’ court.
The court heard his latest offence took place while he was serving a 20week suspended prison sentence for common assault.
District Judge Brown adjourned sentencing until next month – warning Lloyd he could not rule out a custodial sentence.