Benefit cheat’s £22,009 false welfare claim

A welfare cheat who is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer had admitted illegally claiming over £22,000 of benefits.
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Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Monday, May 19, how Patrick Tague, 65, of Bank Street, Somercotes, Alfreton, dishonestly made a claim to the Department for Work and Pensions for incapacity benefit while he failed to declare he was working.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “As a result of that claim money was paid by automatic transfer into an account. Information was received that Tague had been working. Information was also provided by his employers and the company confirmed there were no significant breaks and he was employed on November 9, 2008, when he made the claim.

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“He was interviewed by the DWP and confirmed working through the claim period except for three days when he contacted the DWP following a hernia operation. He could not properly explain why he made the claim.”

The court heard £22,009.09 was paid out to Tague between October 2008 and July 2013.

Tague, who is a man of previous good character, pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement on November 9, 2008, to wrongly obtain incapacity benefit. Defence solicitor Mr Gill said Tague is suffering significant health problems including prostate cancer. Tague was sentenced to a 26 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.