STADIUM WORKER’S BENEFITS SHAME
MAN’S DISHONESTY OVER THREE-YEAR PERIOD
A dad falsely claimed almost £10,000 in disability benefits over a three-year period – during which time he had worked as a matchday steward at the Stadium of Light.
John Milburn, 48, was in receipt of disability living allowance, jobseekers allowance and employment support allowance from 2012.
He had been suffering from problems with arthritis and said he was unable to work.
However, his situation improved as such that he gained a door supervisor licence and began to work as a matchday steward at SunProsecutor derland Football Club.
Milburn’s dishonesty was uncovered when it was found that he could walk further than the 10 metres at a time he had told the Department for Work and Pensions.
Jeanette Smith told a hearing at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court: “The total overpayment is £9,7000. He said he was unable to walk for more than 10 metres due to a problem with his hips.
“But he had his door supervisor’s licence and was a steward at the Stadium of Light. To do that job, he has to be fit.
“He got his door supervision licence in 2012 and he didn’t start work at Sunderland Football Club until September 2014.
“But there is evidence to say he worked sporadically as a door supervisor.”
Milburn, of Sunningdale Road, in Springwell, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting his entitlement to benefits.
The offences covered a three-year period from January 2012 to April 2015.
Chairman of the bench David Gostling made Milburn,whoisnowpayingback the £9,700 overpayment, the subject of a six-week curfew order while also ordering him to pay £85 in costs.
“He said he was unable to walk for more than 10 metres due to a hip problem”