£2,500 benefits cheat is fined £4,000

From the Echo, first published Tuesday 21st Oct 2003.

AN OUT-OF-WORK scaffolder who had more than £100,000 in bank accounts was fined £4,000 after conning the benefit system out of more than £2,500.

Raymond Raphael Crockford, 59, of Hillfield Close, Weymouth, denied he had any savings to claim handouts but actually had a 'considerable' sum stashed in three building society accounts after selling a house for around £300,000, Weymouth magistrates heard.

He had been found guilty of five charges of making a false representation to obtain benefit at an earlier trial. The court was told he had £136,000 in bank accounts. Prosecuting, Sean Waters said Crockford moved to Weymouth in late May or early June of 2001 and made an application for social security benefit, saying he had no capital assets.

But he had 'considerable' funds in three building society accounts, Mr Waters added. Crockford was convicted of falsely claiming £1,374.71 in Job Seeker's Allowance, council tax and housing benefit and a sum of £1,273.20 was also taken into consideration.

Mr Waters said that £735 has so far been reclaimed by social services. The court was told Crockford has around 100 convictions for dishonesty.

In mitigation, Christopher White said Crockford bought a villa in Spain after the breakdown of his second marriage in 1996 and went to live there.

He said: "This venture was something of a disaster and he had to come back soon afterwards. He ended up coming back to this country having sold the building for around £300,000. Most of that later went on the house he now lives in.

"Looking at the accounts he had, all had quite substantial sums in them at the time of claiming." Magistrates heard Crockford received an insurance payout of £30,000 from an accident after he dishonestly claimed welfare.

Mr White said Crockford fell down a manhole in Poundbury in Dorchester and has since been taking anti-depressants. "He clearly has some personality disorder," he added.

The court was told that Crockford still owes £1,900 in benefit repayments, which is being deducted from his disability allowance - his sole income. Crockford was ordered to pay £150 costs.

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