IT was an own goal which has cost Stephen Southern dear.
He told benefit officials he was barely able to walk more than 25 metres because of back pain and needed to use a stick.
And his chest pain and dizziness were so bad he needed help to get in and out of bed and to get dressed.
So it came as a bit of surprise when investigators received a tip off that the 49-year-old was refereeing and running the line at local football matches.
They conducted secret surveillance and filmed him sprinting and waving his linesman’s flag during a game.
Discomfort
Katie Houghton, prosecuting at Wigan magistrates’ court, said: “At no time did he show signs of any physical discomfort.
“He was seen to jog, sprint, twist and turn, run backwards, wave his arms around and keep up with the match.”
Southern, of Bakewell Drive, Wigan, illegally claimed £11,000 over five years.
The court heard investigations found he had been a registered referee with the Lancashire FA since 2004 and last year officiated in more than 40 matches.
'Improved'
Southern pleaded guilty to failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change of circumstances.
Martin Jones, defending, said Southern’s condition ‘improved considerably’ after spinal surgery but he still suffered pain.
Mr Jones said: “This was a claim that was legitimately made. It was not a claim that was fraudulent from the outset.”
The court heard Southern is now repaying the cash at £150 per month. He was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid community work and to pay £200 in court costs.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Tezza, Tyldesley (27/11/2009 at 09:42)
Moorlok, London (27/11/2009 at 09:55)
Mark FCUM, Manchester (27/11/2009 at 10:06)
When he's paid it all back he should be given a job as a Premiership ref!
city col, prestwich (27/11/2009 at 10:27)
Mike S, Manchester (27/11/2009 at 10:29)
Straight to the point, Westhoughton (27/11/2009 at 10:35)
coolhead, Copenhagen (27/11/2009 at 10:49)
hjk (27/11/2009 at 10:58)
oddlegs, bury (27/11/2009 at 11:00)
Once again you only publish stories about people defrauding the Benefits System, But you never publish the number of people that are being CHEATED out of their Benefits by the Benefits Agency themselves,why do I say this? because Iam an 80 year old severely disabled (born with cebral paulsea)and I have been cheated out of my Pension Credit & Council Tax Benefit for the last 6 years, I have been up before 2 Tribunals, both chaired by the same old Lady who decided against me, and also made allegations against that where totally untrue in contradiction of a decision made by a Crown Court Judge in 1989, in other words saying that the Crown court judge when he found me not guilty of an offence, which she now says Iam guilty of,this last Tribunal was held only yesterday,I think there must be a lot of others that faced a DWP Tribunal and suffered similar mis-carriages of justice the same as I have, I hope my story helps someone else, as I have nobody to help me.
pol, Manchester (27/11/2009 at 11:24)
Tezza, Tyldesley (27/11/2009 at 11:34)
Blimey has someone upset you today?
Stevedore, Quayside (27/11/2009 at 11:56)
I sympathise with your predicament oddlegs. In 1999 I became physically disabled through illness following which I had to give up my employment on the advice of a consultant and my GP. Although I was immediately given incapacity benefit, I was advised to claim for Disability Living Allowance (mobility component) as I was having difficulty in walking and climbing stairs. I made a claim, was assessed by a DWP doctor and refused the DLA. I appealed and was refused again. Some time later I went to the CAB to ask for their assistance in trying to claim this allowance; the CAB agreed to help me. Despite the help of the CAB and further letters from my consultant and GP supporting my claim, I was again refused the benefit. A further appeal was made and following protracted correspondence I was eventually awarded the benefit three years after I had become disabled meaning that I had lost over £3,000 in benefits that I was entitled to. Whilst I agree that people like Stephen Southern should be prosecuted for defrauding the benefit system, will an official from the DWP be hauled before the courts for defrauding me of money that I was legally entitled to; I doubt it.
C.O. Jones (27/11/2009 at 12:21)
hjk,
27/11/2009 at 10:58
Aint that the truth..
Seems to be erased from most Tories voters memories this point. The Tories completely massaged the statistics and effectively started the ball rolling for the creation of what we now have i.e. A thirty year old generation spanning society of "cant work, Wont work" Freeloaders..
Thanks Maggie. A great legacy you have left. Combine that with wholesale privatisation and poll tax and that is quite an achievment..
schgittor (27/11/2009 at 12:41)
Jeff Lebowski (27/11/2009 at 12:47)
Would have thought that anyone who had cerebral palsy for 80 years would know how to spell it by now!!
Jenny Tals, Manchester (27/11/2009 at 12:57)
That was a bit below the belt man.
Earth (27/11/2009 at 13:05)
Whilst the MP's get away with it, so will the man in the street
Esso Blue. Anything that is possible no matter how unlikely, happens all the time, Manchester (27/11/2009 at 13:15)
Jeff Lebowski (27/11/2009 at 13:31)
Call me an old cynic, but I don't automatically believe what everyone writes on here.
Northen Bird :), Eccles (27/11/2009 at 13:54)
Nemo (27/11/2009 at 14:55)
Jeff Lebowski (27/11/2009 at 14:57)
James Yates, Hyde, Cheshire (27/11/2009 at 15:04)
want to leave, Stretford (27/11/2009 at 15:27)
Esso Blue. Anything that is possible no matter how unlikely, happens all the time, Manchester (27/11/2009 at 15:49)
27/11/2009 at 14:57
When you get to 80 sometimes your spelling suffers.
If I was at the DWP I would give oddlegs99 the money.