'Disabled' security guard ran own firm while falsely claiming £34k in benefits

Double-dealing Dayle Leatherland filled in self assessment forms alleging he was so severely disabled he could not tie his own shoe laces and was unable to work, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 51-year-old even launched his own business while illegally pocketing state pay outs before the six-year scam was exposed, it was revealed.

Mr Mark Jackson , prosecuting, explained: "He claimed the consequences of numerous physical problems were that he could only walk a few steps very slowly before feeling severe discomfort. He said his ankle would give way causing him to stumble."

Leatherland insisted he even required a stick to rise from a chair as well as needing help to get in and out of bed and the shower, the court heard.

The prosecutor declared: "The picture he presented was one of acute physical difficulty and he was categorised as being virtually unable to walk. This was completely incompatible with the reality of him running his own business as a security guard specialising in dog handling."

Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) investigators discovered details of him being employed by companies as far afield as Hereford to guard sites and go out on patrol with his dog, the court was told.

Official documents showed Leatherland first applied for permission to transport guard dogs to and from jobs as long ago as August 2007 and this continued until the DWP probe uncovered the racket in May 2013. Mr Jackson concluded: "If officials had known the true situation he would not have had any benefit at all."

In fact the conman was paid a total of £33,924 in incapacity benefit, disability living allowance and income support to which he was not entitled.

The defendant, who ran the security guard business called D. Leatherland Dog Handling Services from his home in Cochrane Close, Tipton, started making the claims legitimately after being badly hurt in a fall from a balcony in 1989 but never reported improvements in his condition, said Mr Adrian Stephens, defending.

Leatherland had also built up massive £56,000 debts installing a conservatory and adding an extension to his home, it was alleged.

Mr Stephens conceded: "Perhaps he turned a blind eye to the regulations. He was focused on these very severe debts and this was a way of paying some of them. There was no lavish lifestyle, luxury holidays or fast cars." The defendant still owes around £20,000, it was said.

Leatherland, of previous good character, admitted six charges of fraud and was sent to prison for six months by Judge John Warner who told him: "You painted a totally false picture of yourself to the authorities. Lots of people from all sorts of walks of life have financial difficulties and do not turn to dishonesty to sort out these problems."