Benefits cheat who claimed £12k in disability cash caught working as delivery driver

A benefits cheat who pocketed over £12,500 in disability payouts has been caught on camera working as a courier.

Paul Carter, 57, can be seen nimbly climbing into the back of his van to arrange large boxes with no sign of his so-called disability.

The cheat was spared jail despite fraudulently claiming thousands of pounds in disability living allowance and tax credits over a period of four-and-a-half years.

As the footage shows, the scammer worked as a courier while “cheating the system and diverting taxpayers’ money from those who really need it” between October 2011 and March 2016.

Following his sentencing, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) released surveillance footage captured during a joint investigation with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

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Carter was sentenced on January 18 to a 12-week community order, after admitting two counts of benefit fraud at Warrington Magistrates Court.

As part of his sentencing, Carter, from Warrington, will also be subjected to an electronically monitored curfew of 4pm to 4am until April.

A DWP spokesman said: “Only a small minority of benefit claimants are dishonest, but cases like this show how we are rooting out the unscrupulous minority who are cheating the system and diverting taxpayers’ money from those who really need it.

“We are determined to find those we suspect of abusing the welfare system by following up on tip-offs, undertaking surveillance and working with local councils.

“If you suspect someone of fraudulently claiming benefits then call our National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.”