Pair escape jail over paternity test scam in bid to save father £49,000

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday how the woman became pregnant by Paul Rajch, but he later disputed being the father of her child.

Prosecutor Stuart Young said although around £1,400 had been deducted from Rajch’s wages as maintenance payments he subsequently made a claim to have the cash refunded and asked for a DNA test. But when the DNA sample was given in November 2009 it was his friend Ian Hobbs who went along and pretended to be Rajch.

The scam came to light when it was found that the photograph of Hobbs, taken at the time of the sample, did not match Rajch. Mr Young said as a result further DNA tests were carried out which did establish that Rajch was the father.

Mr Young submitted that it was the Child Support Agency’s case that it had been a deliberate attempt to evade the maintenance that was due for the child and to absolve the non-resident parent of his financial obligations.

He said a calculation of maintenance payments which could be made up to the child’s 20th birthday totalled just under £49,000. Judge Colin Burn was told that Rajch was now making regular payments to cover maintenance and his arrears.

Rajch, 33, of Bewerley Crescent, Bradford, and Hobbs, 32, of Owlet Road, Bradford, were both charged over the false representation earlier this year and each admitted a charge of fraud.

Rajch had his 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, and he will also have to do 180 hours unpaid work for the community.

Hobbs received an identical suspended sentence but he will have to comply with a high level activity requirement and be subject to supervision for 18 months.