Benefits cheat behind bars

Jan 7 2009 by Paul James, The Journal

BENEFITS cheat Richard Cheeseman Harris was last night beginning a jail sentence after admitting defrauding more than £16,000 while he had substantial savings in the bank.

The grey-haired 62-year-old cancer sufferer was jailed for 16 weeks by magistrates in Peterlee, County Durham, yesterday.

Over two years, Harris claimed £16,473 in benefits. When he filled in forms claiming benefits, he stated he never had more than £330.

However, investigators discovered that he had a number of bank accounts regularly showing savings of over £30,000.

And when he was interviewed by the Department of Work and Pensions, Harris told them: “If I say I’ve spent it, you’ve only got my word for it.”

Harris, of Simpson Street, Consett, had admitted six charges of dishonestly making a false representation to obtain benefits at an earlier hearing.

Alan Devine, prosecuting on behalf of the DWP, said the investigation showed during the period he had an account with Lloyds TSB which contained £8,000 and one with Philippine National Bank with £22,000 in it. He refused to answer questions about the accounts, telling investigators the cash was from an inheritance.

Nick Musgrove, representing Harris, said: “My client is remorseful and regrets his actions.”

He added: “He has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has had surgery but still hasn’t been told he is clear of it.”

Magistrates sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison yesterday.

After the hearing Mr Musgrove announced his client would appeal against the sentence.

He said: “Mr Harris is going to appeal. I am currently in discussions with him in the cells.”

Harris was led away in handcuffs by security guards to cells below the courtroom.

The court was earlier told that Harris kept savings in accounts in foreign banks.

Mr Devine said Harris had been consistently evasive when questioned by DWP investigators as to where the savings had come from.