Local pensioner pleads guilty to 18 counts of fraud

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 05 December 2006

A local man pleaded guilty to 18 counts of benefit fraud, dishonesty and falsifying statements in Bury Magistrates Court on Wednesday 29 November.

Frederick Rogers aged 77 from 10 Harper Fold Road, Radcliffe, was told by the chair of the bench that: ldquo;These were deliberate offences of dishonesty aggravated by the length of time over which they were committed, his deliberate misrepresentations and by his failure to engage with Bury Council”.

Rogers, who paid the pound;2,616.30 he had fraudulently obtained back prior to the hearing was fined pound;900 and ordered to pay pound;296.84 in costs at total of pound;1,196.84.

The council’s solicitor James Parry advised the court that Mr Rogers had been served with the summons and case papers, which he had sent back, and that he had sent investigating officers a post card from his holidays when they invited him for interview. 

The defendant’s solicitor told the court that his client did not feel he had been dishonest but that he was of the view that the benefit was to acknowledge the fact that he was a single person, and he had been grossly negligent in failing to give details of his income and capital.

Councillor Tony Isherwood Executive Member for Safe, Strong and Confident Communities said: ldquo;The defendant in this case showed a blatant disregard for the law and deliberately set out to mislead the council. No matter how long it takes, we will track down people who fraudulently claim benefit ndash; so be warned, if you are being dishonest, we will catch up with you.”