Carer fiddled £4k by not declaring pension

Kevin Woosey, of St Patrick’s Way, Scholes, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly making a statement to obtain income support when he appeared at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court for sentencing.

The court heard how the 59-year-old had been asked several times when applying for the benefit whether he was in receipt of a pension but on each occasion he replied “no”.

He also signed a statement saying the same.

Prosecuting, Glenn Anderton, said: “Between January 14 2013 and April 28 2015 - some 27 months - Mr Woosey was making a claim for income support on the basis that he was a carer and had not other income.

“But evidence was made available and Woosey admitted to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that at the time he made the claim he was receiving a pension.

“This resulted in him being overpaid soem £4,118.94.

“When questioned later, he admitted he may have not read some small print.”

The court also heard that Woosey was repaying the money to the DWP and that he had no previous convictions.

He was given a community order which includes a curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am for eight weeks.

Woosey was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £60.