Basketball star jailed for benefits con

A wheelchair basketball star who plays for Wolverhampton Rhinos has been jailed over a benefits con.

Father-of-two Ade Orogbemi told sport funding bosses that he wasn't claiming benefits – meaning that he was given more cash than he should have received. The 30-year-old, who won a bronze medal for Britain at the Beijing Paralympics, was jailed for six months yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court. The court heard that Orogbemi received an award from UK Sport in April 2001.

But the grant, awarded by the National Lottery to help train international athletes, was reduced because he honestly declared he claimed income support. When Orogbemi's grant was up for renewal in January 2002, he changed his story to get extra cash – insisting that he was no longer receiving benefits.

During November 2003 and October 2004 alone, he received just under £22,000 funding as well as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit he was dishonestly claiming.

Orogbemi, of Liverpool, had pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud in January. He was charged with two counts of making a false statement and of failing to notify a change of circumstances.

Orogbemi faces a proceeds of crime hearing on July 17.