'Quadriplegic' fraudster who claimed over £500,000 in benefits caught pushing wheelchair-bound wife around

A benefits cheat who claimed he had no use of his arms and legs conned the authorities for 15 years - until he was spotted walking around town pushing his wheelchair-bound wife.

A court heard Brian Matthews, 51, fraudulently claim £250,000 in benefits by pretending to be quadriplegic.

Matthews fooled medical professionals with fake symptoms and was able to convince doctors to give him medical documents without examinations.

He was so convincing that judgments about his health were made by doctors on trust, Truro Crown Court heard, as he conned the authorities over a 15 year period - until he was seen walking around town and helping his wife with her wheelchair.

Matthews pleaded guilty to offenses worth £245,000 but the total cost to the public purse was said to be more than £500,000.

Jo Martin, for the Crown Prosecution Service

He admitted six counts of making a false representation and two counts of fraud by false representation over a 15 year period starting in 2001.

Several charges relating to the remaining funds were denied by Matthews and were left on file by the prosecution.

He also arrived at court in a mobility scooter and with two crutches.

Sentencing was adjourned so a medical report could be drawn up by a neurologist to accurately assess the extent of his illness, but Judge Robert Linford said it was highly likely that Matthews would be facing a lengthy jail sentence.

Jo Martin, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Mr Martin maintained for a long time that he was quadriplegic.

''Over that time he was able to convince doctors and they did not properly test him because of trust.

"In recent years evidence that Mr Matthews was capable of walking has emerged. In 2012 he was seen walking around Penzance without any problems at all.

"In 2017 he has taking his wife Theresa into her doctors, her being pushed in a wheelchair with Mr Matthews being the one pushing her in.

"Mr Matthews is, from the Crown's position, incredibly manipulative."

Ms Martin said on other occasion Matthews was visited by police and his mobility car was parked half a mile from his home and he didn't have any walking aids with him.

She said this was further evidence he was not a quadriplegic as he had claimed.

Defending Matthews, Jim Tilbury said: "Mr Matthews accepts that he is not quadriplegic.

"He presently understands it that he is unable to stand without aids, he accepts that hasn't always been the case."

Speaking after the hearing, Dave Morris of the Department for Work and Pensions, said: "It is a good result. Benefit relief should go to those people that need them.

"The total cost to the public purse is £509,000, the indictment today carried a number of offences.

"He didn't plead guilty to all of them, there is £245,000 that he has pleaded guilty to, the rest of the offences are lying on file.

"When people claim benefits on the grounds of ill health or disability they provide evidence.

"When obtaining records from their GP the doctor or medical professional takes the patients description of disabilities on trust.

"They rely on what they say being the truth. In this case that was not the case.

"There were documents provided that were false and some were provided by medical professionals where no examination was made of the patient.''

Matthews was released on bail until Friday April 13.