Benefits cheat jailed after CCTV camera exposed 'bad back' scam (From This is Hampshire)

Benefits cheat jailed after CCTV camera exposed 'bad back' scam

9:01am Tuesday 2nd October 2007 in

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FOR ten years Jack Beesley claimed his back problem was so bad he could barely lift a saucepan of water.

But in reality Beesley was working as a carpet fitter in Southampton while fraudulently claiming nearly £100,000 in benefit payments.

Today, Beesley, 49, woke up behind bars after he was sentenced for a catalogue of illegal claims since 1997.

His partner Jeanette Osman, 39, was also handed a nine-month suspended sentence for her part in the scam.

Together, they skimmed £120,000 in income support, disability living allowance and housing and council tax benefits.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Beesley had been spotted lifting heavy rolls of carpet on his shoulder at his rented, lock up garage in Kendal Avenue, Southampton.

Meanwhile he was claiming thousands of pounds in government aid saying his back condition had failed to improve.

After receiving a tip off, fraud officers launched a nine-month surveillance operation throughout 2006 in a bid to catch Beesley at work.

Under the full glare of Southampton City Council CCTV cameras stationed near his garage, he was seen effortlessly kneeling down and bending to measure out large sections of carpet. He even carried a disabled parking permit in his car.

Without using a company name, Beesley first carried out work for friends before gradually expanding the operation.

Further investigations revealed he had ordered £70,000 worth of carpet material from wholesalers over a five-year period alone.

When benefits officers asked about his situation he was described as being "indignant" at suggestions that he was making money on the side.

Large family The court heard how the couple was supporting a large family at their Housing Association home in Colburn Close, Southampton and spending much of the money bringing up five children.

He pleaded guilty earlier this year to five separate offences of dishonestly failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change of circumstances. His partner admitted two similar offences.

Beesley wept as he was handed out a 30-month sentence at Southampton Crown Court.

Recorder David Bartlett said: "The reality is that you have been able to work over this 10 year period and you told the authorities that you were incapable of it. The money could have gone to other more deserving people.

"Realistically there is no way of repaying this amount.'' After the hearing, a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions counter-fraud investigation service said Beesley's deception was at the "higher end" of overpayment cases to be recorded in the city.

He said: "While we recognise that he did have some kind of back problem and people do have good and bad days, we were looking at an overall period of 10 years.

"The evidence showed that he was able to work over a long period of that time and did not declare it.

"It takes a lot of time and effort to investigate claims and this was a joint operation with Southampton City Council, Police and the council's CCTV unit.

"The message is clear that this is not a victimless crime because it is money from the pot that should go to people in need.

"All benefit fraud is serious, but this was at the higher end of overpayments that we have had.'' Anyone who suspects they have witnessed an offence should contact the Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440 or call the Southampton fraud office direct on 023 808 32380.