Runcorn benefits cheat who said he couldn't walk had job in car park and went to Alton Towers

Runcorn dad Joseph Smith, aged 41, who said he could only walk eight metres without severe discomfort was also filmed moving bundles of traffic cones, working as a car park marshall.

Smith, of Petersgate, Murdishaw, who fiddled £37,167 of benefits, was jailed for 16 months at Warrington Crown Court on Thursday after admitting three fraud charges, dating back to 2005.

Fraud investigators discovered he had been using a false name, fake national insurance number and forged bank details to draw wages.

Judge Nick Woodward said: “This is a case of deliberate exaggeration in order to gain benefit over a six year period.

“It was calculated and sophisticated.

“You set out deliberately to make a dishonest claim, trying your best to hide it from the authorities.

“£30,000 in public money has been obtained by you. That is £5,000 a year or £100 a week going into your pockets.

“This money came from allowances society tries to give to the most vulnerable people.

“When offences like this are committed, the people affected are the most vulnerable.

“I am aware you are worried about your son and how he’ll be able to cope when you are in prison.

“You should have thought about that before and you didn’t.”

Prosecutor Tom Watson said Smith had fraudulently claimed £11,361 income support, £20,934 severe disability allowance and a £4,870 disability living allowance, claimed as a motability car.

He said: “He claimed the inability to walk without severe discomfort. He described his speed as slow and walking as poor.

“He said he required physical support and used a walking stick.”

A surveillance operation began in October, 2010 after it was alleged Smith had a job.

Benefit fraud investigators filmed him working as a car park attendant.

Mr Watson said: “He spent hours on his feet, bending down to pick up traffic cones and all this without the use of walking sticks.

“Covert films were also made of a day out at Alton Towers theme park.

“He was capable of walking and staying on his feet for long periods of time.

“He visited various rides and was using them.”

Wage details revealed that Smith had worked for SDP events as a car park marshall since 2005.

His average weekly wage was £120 but he could earn up to £374.

Mr Watson said: “He had been using a false name, Joe Holland.

“It was planned and sophisticated and fraudulent from the outset.”

Smith was convicted of benefit fraud in 2006-2007.

Mr Watson said: “Had we known about his employment, the actual amount of his fraud then was £44,578.

“That means he now owed the department £81,212. That sum is being repaid at £19 a fortnight. A long way to go.”

Gary Lawrenson, defending, said: “He has expressed his extreme remorse by pleading guilty.

“He does have medical problems though he accepts he has exaggerated them.”

Smith was born with spina bifida and had major surgery four hours after he was born and spent his first year in hospital.

Mr Lawrenson said: “He has backache and constant cramps all over his body.

“He has a foot smaller than the other and one hip is smaller which means his posture is poor.

“His family means everything to him.

“His wife said he is a kind person, a good supportive husband and an excellent father.

“He expected the prospect of a custodial sentence and this has been hanging over his head and his family for over a year.”

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