A benefits cheat alleged he was bound to a wheelchair in order to swindle £90,000 from the taxpayers over seventeen years before he was caught teaching racing and exercise classes in cycle Speedway events.
Fifty-eight-year-old Stephen Hodgkinson lied about requiring 24/7 care, even while walking, and struggled with regular activities like getting dressed and eating.
The Department of Work & Pensions investigators found out that he was participating in Birmingham Monarchs cycle speedway, going to the gym, and running indoor cycling classes.
Photographs of him went viral across social media platforms with trophies he won in the events also created a part for the damning case against him.
Smethwick pleaded guilty for failing to report a modification in circumstances as well as of dishonest representation to acquire benefits.
However, Stephen managed to avoid jail after he was ordered an 18-month-long prison sentence as well as suspended on Monday at Wolverhampton Crown Court. He was ordered to carry out two-hundred hours of unpaid work as well.
Judge Martin Jackson noted that his initial claim for the Disability Living Allowance was legitimate but over a long period of time, he had failed to inform the DWP regarding changes in his circumstances as well as painted an image of extreme helplessness.
He further said that Stephen failed to reveal to the DWP that he was in an improved condition than when his claim started. He also noted that by Stephen’s plea, he was accepting that he was dishonest in his failure to notify the DWP.
The court heard how Stephen initially made a real claim in 2002 for support because he suffered from AIDS. However, even though his condition improved drastically over the years, he did not inform the authorities.
Stephen’s defending lawyer, Balvinder Bhatti, said that Stephen’s initial claim was genuine and he was living with life-limiting and frightening conditions. She added that he accepted it was not as bad as he made it seem like but deeply regretted not coming out clean.
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