10:36pm Sunday 27th May 2007
A FATHER-OF-THREE who plundered almost £30,000 in benefits he wasn't entitled to has walked free from court.
Robert Cloutman claimed incapacity benefit for a bad knee despite holding down a string of jobs including working as a warehouseman.
He also continued to pocket the cash when both he and his wife were working full-time taking home about £2,000 a month. But the 54-year-old escaped a jail term and instead has been ordered to do 200 hours of community service.
David Chidgey, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that Cloutman falsely claimed £28,785.77 from November 2002 through to January 2005. The money was made up of incapacity benefit, income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
He said that from November 2002 to late January the following year he worked as a warehouseman for Solutions Recruitment taking home more than £186 a week.
After a week off he worked for SW Group Logistics until June 20, 2003, getting paid £522 every two weeks. Between August 31, 2003 and September 30, 2004, he worked for Mainline Employment taking home on average £310 a week.
He said that between February 16 2004 and September 30, 2004, his wife Tracey was also working full time at Le Creuset in the outlet village earning £945 a month.
Finally between October 23, 2004 and January 29, 2005, he was back working for Mainline Employment.
During the whole period Cloutman failed to notify Swindon Council of his circumstances so received housing and council tax benefit.
Mr Chidgey said when he was questioned he told investigators he was in a lot of debt' and knew what he was doing was wrong.
The case had been adjourned last month after the defence said their client may have been entitled to other benefits.
Mr Chidgey said it was calculated he could have received about £16,000 in tax credits making the notional loss to the public purse only £12,222.
Cloutman, of Dunley Close, Redhouse, admitted six charges of failing to notify a change of circumstance to obtain benefit.
Chris Smyth, defending, said the claim had started out as a genuine one but his client had taken work as and when he felt well enough.
He said Cloutman had a false knee fitted after an industrial accident when a gearbox fell on his leg at work. The money was not spent on luxuries or high living but on keeping the family going, he said.
Passing sentence, Recorder David Lane QC said: "You are a 54-year-old man with three children dependent on you.
"You are in regular employment. I don't want to frustrate that in any way. I accept there is a very, very low risk of you re-offending."
As well as the 200 hours of community service he also ordered Cloutman to pay £150 costs. No compensation order was made as the Department of Work and Pensions uses its civil powers to recover the money.
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