Benefits fraudster caught working at holiday park despite pocketing £26k after claiming he was too weak to get dressed

A benefits fraudster has been caught working at a holiday park despite pocketing £26,000 after claiming he was too weak to get dressed.

Graham Gannon, 63, declared he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis to gain Personal Independent Payments (Pip).

However, the Department of Work and Pensions received an anonymous tip-off pointing to a Norfolk holiday park where he was working as a maintenance man.

Despite the medical claims, Gannon carried out physically demanding jobs on a daily basis, including painting, landscaping, litter picking, property maintenance and unblocking toilets.

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Some of his jobs required him to climb ladders.

The benefits fraudster was handed a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months after he admitted to his offences.

He had fraudulently claimed more than £26,000 in Pip payments over the course of four years, Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court.

Prosecutor Wendy Davidson said Gannon started claiming benefits after he declared his dexterity was weakening.

After stopping treatment for his condition, he failed to declare it had improved, but instead told DWP his movement in his hands was limited.

Ms Davidson said: "He failed to disclose that he had returned to work full time.

"He said he thought he was allowed to work and claim and said that he had a medical condition.

"He worked on a caravan site and would do any heavy lifting on a good day."

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While living on a boat in Lowestoft, Gannon was interviewed under caution where he confessed to failing to declare he had begun working a manual-labour job.

He was given £26,324 in benefits between February 2019 to March 2023, the court heard.

The benefits fraudster pleaded guilty to three charges, which included failing to notify the DWP his physical condition had improved and his circumstances had changed.

He also admitted falsely indicating on Pip review forms submitted on January 20, 2020 and January 18, 2022, while living in Beccles, that he lacked capability, when this was untrue.

Defence lawyer Lisa Dade said: "Mr Gannon accepts full responsibility for his offending and expresses genuine remorse.

"This is a case of misunderstanding and it was not fraudulent from the outset.

"He is a gentleman of 63 years of age, of good character, and this offending is wholly out of character."

Chairman of the Bench Geoffrey Dyett said: "It is really two extremes that we are dealing with to a certain extent.

"You are a gentleman in your mid-60s and have gone through your life with an unblemished record with regards to crime and yet here we have an offence.

"You currently owe £26,324.65 and this has been accumulated over several years of receiving finances that you weren't due to receive.

"Perhaps you thought you could still claim benefits while you were in work. The benefits you were claiming were not legal for you at the time."

Gannon was ordered to also pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 in prosecution costs.

He will also receive a Loss of Benefit Penalty for a minimum of 13 weeks, if he is allowed to claim certain other benefits.

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