Video: Handsacre benefit cheat who claimed disabilty caught playing golf

Jun 14 2009 by Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury

He was eventually caught out by undercover fraud investigators who filmed him enjoying a leisurely round in September and October 2008.

The videos revealed a perfectly-fit McPhee lugging his heavy golf bag in and out of his car with no distress. It also showed him teeing-off with ease and sending powerful shots down the course, while he chats happily with his golf partner.

McPhee was subsequently charged with making false representation to obtain benefits, under the Social Security Act 1992, and he pleaded guilty to the offence at Stafford Magistrates Court in May.

He had claimed Disabled Living Allowance since June 1997, but the false claims had been made from November 15, 2006 to November 25, 2008.

Moira Bell, prosecuting on behalf of the DWP, said McPhee joined the golf club in 2006. Yet he had an ongoing duty to report any change in his medical condition, particularly an improvement, she added.

“He regularly played golf at Lichfield Golf and Country Club, which was totally inconsistent with the condition described in his application,’’ said Ms Bell.

McPhee was interviewed and shown the surveillance video which had been taken by an investigating officer in September 2008.

Ms Bell added: ‘‘The video showed him walking around the golf course, pushing a golf trolley and teeing off. There were no walking aids and he walked 6,000 yards. He was also seen to lift his trolley out of a car and into a car, without any aid or sign of discomfort.

“He admitted he played golf twice a week and knew he should have reported the change in circumstances.’’

Benefit cheats net more than £27 million each year in the Midlands, enough to pay for 1,000 police officers or 1,200 extra frontline nurses.

Around 70 per cent of people investigated by the West Midlands benefit fraud team end up being prosecuted.

Last night, Sian Fellowes, Senior Fraud Investigator for the DWP, said: “There are a lot of people unemployed in the Midlands at the moment and here is a man who clearly never had any intention of working.

“When you compare McPhee’s behaviour with the plight of firms like LDV, it makes it all the more disappointing.

“I would like to thank the public for their help in catching benefit cheats because without them we would not be able to do our job.”