British Benefit Fraudster Busted In Benalmadena

British Benefit Fraudster Busted In Benalmadena – a 70 year old man claiming benefits in the UK has been caught working in Spain

British Benefit Fraudster Busted In Benalmadena

70 year old Antony McNamara has been falsely claiming pension credit in the UK since 2011, despite living and working in Benalmadena here on the Costa Del Sol where he also owns 50% of a house.

McNamara claimed that he lived with his sister, Margaret Walsh, in Heysham. He told the DWP that he didn’t have a bank account and asked that his benefits be paid to Margaret. She then transferred the money to McNamara who was in Spain.

Family Affair

The DWP investigated McNamara and discovered that his sister, Margaret Walsh, is actually his former partner and the couple have a child together.

Guilty

Antony McNamara has pleaded guilty to benefit fraud, and must now pay back fifteen thousand pounds which he was not entitled to. He has also been handed a suspended sentence.

Margaret Walsh admitted lying to an inspector who visited her house when she said that McNamara had just “popped out”, but she denied being involved in the fraud. However, after a trial at Liverpool Magistrates Court, she was found guilty on all charges of assisting McNamara in obtaining benefit by deception and was sentenced to 10 weeks electronic tagging and a curfew.

Catching British Criminals In Spain

David Topping, an investigator with the Department for Work and Pensions said:

“This case shows that people abroad who set out to defraud the benefit system in the UK by claiming benefits they are clearly not entitled to, will be tracked down and dealt with in the courts. The Department’s Fraud and Error Service take every allegation received very seriously and wherever possible will investigate and take appropriate action.

“I would encourage anyone who knows of similar fraudsters in their communities to continue passing details through to our colleagues in Spain.”

If you would like to contact the DWP you can do so through their website here.

Written by Dave James