A son who fraudulently claimed almost £15,000 in benefits to care for his elderly father, even though he had died in Italy seven years earlier, has been jailed.
It was not until jobless Francesco Salvo wrote to the Department of Social Services to get the payments stopped that his deception came to light, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
In an ironic twist, the court was told the 47-year-old did not claim unemployment benefit although he was entitled to it, which would have come to around the same amount.
Mr Mark Jones, prosecuting, said there had been a number of contacts with the DSS in the years after Salvo’s father passed away in Sicily in 2000.
In 2003 Salvo, of Hordern Road, Whitmore Reans, informed officials of a new address and two months later confirmed he wished to continue to receive the weekly £43 carer’s allowance.
There were further communications in December of that year and in January 2006.
When he wrote to officials to get the payments stopped, Salvo gave the reason that he had found work, not that his father had died.
He was arrested in October when police went to his home and seized bank statements and other documents. He admitted deception at an earlier hearing.
Mr Christopher O’Gorman, defending, said: “The offence started as a legitimate and genuine claim that then continued for far longer than it should have done.”
Salvo’s sister received a carer’s allowance to look after their wheelchair-bound mother, with whom he lived, and the court accepted that he also tended to her needs.
Mr Jones said: “It was essential for him to be there to lift her and to help his sister with the heavier duties. He didn’t wait for the knock on the door – he voluntarily withdrew from his criminal activity.”
Sentencing him to six months behind bars, Recorder Derek Chinery said: “It’s always sad when someone in your position comes before the court, losing your good name, but the reality is that this was deliberate offending.”
11 Comments
More benefit that should have gone to someone that deserves it.
6 months ,thats harsh, just be cause his dad died and they didn’t know, should have fined him, its costing me even more now.
If he was entitled to other benefits and it came to about the same amount why jail him? Thought the people who work in benefits were sposed to see people are paid what theyre entitled to not just chase people for what theyre not.
This man should be released as he did not claim any other benefits. The jail term is harsh and he could have been fined instead or community service.There are people out there claiming all types of benefits which they are not entitled too. They are also people working who has substantial savings and still claiming tax credits and working part time. Why dont they target people like this and people working also claiming benefit? This needs be fully addressed.
I agree with all comments made. Either way the would have totalled to the same amount if he was unemployed. This means more HD Widescreen TV’s and gadgets for benefits cheats!
Although I don’t agree with benefit fraud,it seems you get jailed for this type of offence but given suspended sentences for attacking O.A.P.’s.The British
Justice system has lost the plot.
seems very harsh especialy as a young thug who robs an old lady of her pention give her a good kicking gets community service and a pat on the head
Tax payer are you mad…any theft off the benefits system is fraud.
No matter how much he stole.
If hed stole it from your wallet in a pub youd have a different opinion.
He claimed for a dead man for gods sake..how much more fraudulent can you get…its my taxes…and i dont like thieves!
He should have got a longer sentence and been permantly banned from ever claiming any benefits from the day he went to prison.
Gaynor said ‘no matter how much he stole,he should have got a longer sentence,
Does that follow then that every one who nicks something gets jail?,just because you dont like thieves, and that you or your family have never nicked any thing ever .
Adair..no i dont have a criminal record.
Im ex Armed Forces mate..and we dont tolerate thieves amongst us having to live in a close community and trust each other.
If your a thief then you shouldnt be given any respect.He didnt just steal mate..he continued to lie for “7″ years ..did he just forget his father had left this earth!!
I have never stolen anything in my life,i was taught right from wrong from a young child.I pride myself in having provided for my family and child through hard graft and saving for what ive needed.
Once a thief always a thief,the benefits system is there to aid people who are truly desperate and struggling.He could have worked,hes not sick,hes just another one of societys idle money grabbing gits who thinks the world owes him everything.But if you think its respectful to use your dead father as a sorce of gaining benefits fraudulently then all i can say sir is you must be cut off the same cloth.
Thank you for your thoughtful and erudite contribution to the debate!