Disability fraud referee jailed

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Steve Paskin has been jailed for eight months after he falsely claimed more than £17,000 in disability benefits.

A local league football referee who claimed £17,000 in disability benefits has been jailed after being filmed officiating at matches.

Steve Paskin, from Newport, had claimed he could not walk more than a 100 yards (91m) without extreme discomfort.

But investigators caught the 46-year-old in action as a referee at several games.

He was jailed for eight months at Newport Crown Court after admitting making false claims.

A previous court hearing was told that between May 2003 and June 2007, Paskin had claimed £17,375 in disability living allowance.

But an investigation was started when a list of registered referees for the Gwent County Football Association was passed to Department of Works and Pensions officials.

The judge had made it quite clear that benefit fraudsters, when they appear before courts, will pay the penalty DWP fraud investigator Bob Gallagher

Paskin is the third referee in Wales to be caught out recently by investigators.

Sentencing him, Judge David Morris said: "This was a blatant cheat on the public purse. This was a benefit fraud.

"It was blatant, it was persistent."

The court heard that Paskin suffers from chronic back problems and chronic depression and claimed walking made him feel dizzy and sick.

But a video shown to the court showed him jogging and sprinting during a football match.

Spinal condition

Paskin, of Bassaleg near Newport, admitted failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances.

Defending, Elizabeth Pearson said Paskin's initial claim had been genuine, and a GP had confirmed his spinal condition.

She said Paskin attended a pain management clinic, where he was advised to take some exercise, and that he had then become a referee.

She also said the offence was not financially motivated, adding: "This is not a man who has put the money towards a luxury lifestyle, but has simply kept his wife and two children in a moderate lifestyle."

She said he was still receiving incapacity benefit as he was unable to work and had paid £1,144 towards the benefits he fraudulently claimed.

Pay penalty

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will take place later this year.

Outside court, Department of Work and Pensions fraud investigator Bob Gallagher said: "Benefits fraudsters need to be alerted that we are catching up with them.

"The judge had made it quite clear that benefit fraudsters, when they appear before courts, will pay the penalty."

Mr Gallagher added benefit fraud cost Welsh taxpayers an estimated £17m last year.

"It is money we would all rather see go to hospitals, the NHS and the police," he said.

The Gwent County Football Association said Paskin had not registered as a referee for next season.