'Little Britain' Benefit Cheat Sent To Jail

A benefits cheat who pretended to need a wheelchair in a manner likened to a sketch from hit comedy show Little Britain has been jailed.

Peter Dixon, 48, was handed a four-week custodial sentence, of which he will serve half, after he was filmed walking around despite claiming he needed to use a wheelchair.

Preston Crown Court was shown footage of Dixon being wheeled out of a medical centre and carefully helped into the passenger seat of a car.

It wwas contrasted with secret films showing him standing outside a pub having a cigarette and walking down a high street after visiting a cashpoint.

Prosecutor Kevin Slack likened Dixon's double life to the popular series starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, saying the film showed "a scene that could have happened in the comedy show Little Britain".

In the sketch, wheelchair-bound Andy Pipkin is doted on by his caring friend, but when his back is turned, the apparently disabled character gets up from his chair and takes part in a variety of activities.

On one occasion, officers secretly filmed the couple for most of the day, following them as they went to various locations, during which Dixon walked freely and unaided.

However, for his doctor's appointment later the same day Dixon was pushed in a wheelchair by his partner, before continuing with his errands, walking without any trouble.

The court was told that Dixon defrauded £7,600 in Disability Living Allowance .

He had previously suffered a stroke which left him in a wheelchair, but failed to notify the authorities of an improvement in his condition.

Sentencing Dixon, Judge Gibson said: "You were plainly pretending to be suffering from severe symptoms.

"You were calculating and you showed serious disregard to the public who funded your dishonest claims."