David Cairns was jailed yesterday by a judge at Liverpool Crown Court, after admitting defrauding Wigan Council of £10,000 when he claimed he was injured when he fell over a hole in the road.

As the father-of-three began a nine-month prison sentence, Wigan Council today warned they would no longer be a "cash-cow for conmen."

Cairns, a father-of-three, had actually sustained a broken ankle while playing indoor football, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

But the 44-year-old, of Stratton Drive, Platt Bridge, said he had fallen over in the road and sued Wigan Council, and when his case was brought before the county court his story was supported by his nephew Anthony Purves, who lied under oath.The judge believed the pair and awarded Cairns £9,250 in compensation and ordered costs against Wigan Council of £19,200.

Cairns then spent the cash on holidays and a car. But the local authority, which had fought the case, continued investigating and the lies were uncovered.

Henry Pepper, prosecuting, told the court hearing that an accident book from the JJB Soccer Dome was found by fraud investigators.
He said it detailed that the injury was actually sustained during a football game.

He said: "Cairns was arrested and, when confronted with the accident record, he admitted he had lied.

''He said he had pushed and bullied his nephew into giving evidence on his behalf and he stated that he would pay every penny back and take every punishment given.''

Cairns, a production line worker, pleaded guilty to obtaining money by deception and perjury. He was jailed for nine months for deception and nine months, concurrently, for perjury..

Father-of-one and self-employed crane engineer Purves, 32, of Dawlish Way, Golborne, pleaded guilty to perjury and was jailed for six months.

Cairns, who has previous convictions for making a false benefit claim and driving offences, was now a changed character, said Christopher Stables, in mitigation.

Mr Stables said: "The defendant accepts this was blatant behaviour motivated by financial gain.
''The defendant believed the local authority would settle for a lesser sum. He accepts he could have brought an end to it at any stage but there was an element that the ball had started rolling.

"At the time he had a chaotic lifestyle marked by persistent substance and alcohol misuse and he had accrued substantial debts.''

Mr Stables said Cairns was now remorseful and guilty at having roped his nephew into the scam. "He is just not the same man who committed these offences six years ago,'' Mr Stables added.

Charlotte Kenny, counsel for Purves, said he had made no financial gain from the scam: "He signed a witness statement which had been prepared for him and he didn't think through the consequences of his actions.

"Nor did he expect the tripping matter to go to trial. He only assisted because he believed his uncle was in dire financial trouble because the broken ankle meant he could not work and pay his mortgage.''

A confiscation hearing takes place at Liverpool Crown Court on July 7.