Ex-police officer walks free over benefits fraud

Michael Clarke, 55, walked free from court yesterday after he was sentenced to a six-month conditional discharge.

Magistrates at Wakefield heard Clarke, of Hemsworth near Pontefract, was medically discharged from the police force after suffering a stroke in 2004 while working as a traffic officer.

The court heard the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) granted him an indefinite disability living allowance in 2004, which paid for a mobility car.

However, an inquiry later launched by the DWP revealed Clarke had worked for A&M 
Hadfield funeral directors as a driver and coffin bearer since April 2010.

The court was told he had helped out at up to 48 funerals.

When interviewed by the DWP, Clarke told investigators his health had improved from 2009 onwards.

Clarke, who has appealed against the DWP decision to stop his disability benefits, admitted failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances affecting his entitlement to benefits.

Prosecutor Rory Byrne said Clarke received a total of £6,516.55 in benefit payments which he should not have done while working for the funeral director.

Mr Byrne added: “Part of the role involved carrying coffins, and at some point lowering coffins in to the grave.”

The court heard Clarke had £8,000 in savings and was being paid his £1,300 a month police pension while he was getting the benefit payments.

Mitigating, Emma Covington said: “In the aftermath of the health crisis, he found it extremely difficult to walk and was unable to undertake any paid work.

“As is often the way with strokes, slowly but surely his health did improve.”

Miss Covington added: “Throughout the time he worked for the funeral company, his main role was as a driver.

“On occasion he was asked to assist with other roles. It isn’t incorrect that he worked as a pall bearer. The coffins would be on wheeled trolleys, which would be pushed up the centre of the crematorium.

“It certainly wasn’t the position where he was carrying the coffin on his shoulder.”