A top judo coach who won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth games has been jailed for three months for claiming over £24,000 in Disability Living Allowance.
Belfast Crown Court Judge Stephen Fowler QC told 47-year-old Martin Sloane he had "no option" but to jail him "given the blatant and persistent nature of this offence" and that Sloane's "lack of remorse reinforces this view".
Sloane, Dunmurry, outside Belfast - whose initial DLA claims were legitimate - admitted failing to inform authorities about changes in his circumstances, particularly his health.
At an earlier hearing prosecuting lawyer David Cartmill said that Sloane was receiving the highest level of the benefits when he took the bronze in the over 40s section of the 2006 Commonwealth judo championships.
Sloane, who once claimed it took him ten minutes to walk six metres, was eventually caught by benefits investigators who filmed him at judo coaching sessions.
He had first claimed DLA for a severe arthritic condition in April 1992 but his condition improved after he was treated with new drugs and began stretching exercises as part of his judo training.
Sloan later started to coach children and he received weekly payments, but decided not to tell the authorities who launched an investigation in 2008.
Over the years the court heard that the judo champ had been paid over £67,000 in DLA but the authorities said they could only prove that £24,300 of that was claimed fraudulently.
Defence lawyer Stewarts Hindley had said Sloane didn't live a life of luxury with flashy cars or jacuzzis, but looked after his disabled wheelchair bound wife, and was reluctant to be lumped in with thieves, robbers and fraudsters.
However, Judge Fowler said that Sloane "unfortunately deliberately chose" not to let the authorities know when his "medical and health condition dramatically improved" and that his crime "was easy to commit but difficult to detect".
htp Dave
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