Ex-PC spared jail over fraud
A former Staffordshire policeman who dishonestly obtained more than £10,000 of benefits by working while claiming he had a bad back avoided a jail term today.
Cedric Newens, 58, used his wife's national insurance number and bank account to hide his deception.
Newens, of Cemetery Road, Cannock, a former Pc, was today sentenced to 160 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £100 costs at Cannock Magistrates Court.
Mrs Moira Waller, prosecuting for the Department of Work and Pensions, said Newens was paid more than £18,000 while working for Wallace Cameron between October 2003 and September 2005. But he was on incapacity benefit for back pain and failed to declare the income. He had it paid into his wife's bank account and used her national insurance number, Mrs Waller said.
Newens admitted dishonestly obtaining incapacity benefit by failing to notify a change of circumstances, and to making a false declaration. The total loss to public funds was £10,866.41.
David Hinde, chairman of the magistrates bench, said: "You went our of your way to hide your earnings, but you are repaying the money so we will not impose a custodial sentence." Mr Paul Jenkins, defending, said his client had not used the extra cash to buy luxuries.
