DWP slow to bring benefit thief to trial

A man who claimed almost £70,000 in incapacity and income support benefits while working for a demolition company has been jailed for 10 months.

A court heard Richard Vollans, 52, used the cash to pay off drug dealers who were threatening his son.

During his six-and-a-half year deception Vollans could earn up to £1,500 per week.

Simon Perkins, prosecuting, said Vollans, from Beeston, made genuine claims when he first applied for benefits in 1999.

But he began working for a demolition firm in 2003 until his arrest in 2009.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to inform authorities of a change in circumstances.

James Keeley, for Vollans, said he initially began making his claims as he was unable to work due to arthritis and depression as a result of a family tragedy.

He said his 11-year-old daughter had been knocked down and he blamed himself as he had sent her out on an errand.

Mr Keeley said the deception began after he had run up £6,000 worth of debt and his son had got into trouble with drug dealers.

He said: “This man feared retribution for himself and his family.

“After losing one child, he didn’t want to lose another one.

“The simple matter is that he carried on the dishonesty in order to pay these people.

“He could not go to the police. If he did, these people might carry out their threats.

“He is genuinely ashamed of what he has done. It is absolutely right to say that he was looking forward to the day he was caught.”

The barrister said the offences had been hanging over him for 15 months as a result in delays in the investigation by the Department of Work and Pensions.

The court heard how the department has just four officers covering an area from The Wash to the Scottish border.

Judge Geoffrey Marson described the delay in the matter coming to court as a “public disgrace.”

Jailing Vollans, the judge said: “It is as blatant a piece of dishonesty as one can come across as far as benefit fraud is concerned.”

He added: “The fact that it was done to pay your son’s drug debt is no mitigation at all. The appropriate way of dealing with that is to go to the police.”

htp Dave