Benefit cheat admits he pocketed more than £35k

A fraudster who claimed he could not hold a knife and fork because of severe cramp in his hands pocketed more than £35,000 in incapacity benefits – while playing 18 holes of golf three times a week, a court was told.

Michael Scott has now been warned he faces jail after admitting the eight-year scam at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Mr Daniel White, prosecuting, said that Scott told officials he had to crawl upstairs on all fours and could only get down again by sliding on his back.

He also said he needed assistance to stand, had difficulty grasping a pen to write and took a minute to move just 10 metres.

In fact he was a member of the West Bromwich-based Hill Top club and he covered three-and-a-half miles every time he completed a round of golf.

Scott, aged 59, of Gayfield Avenue, Brierley Hill, first filled in an application form for disability allowance in 2001 and detailed all the problems he allegedly encountered.

He got annual reminders between 2002 and 2010 from the Department of Work and Pensions making it clear that he must inform the authorities of any improvement in his medical condition.

He did not respond to them although a golf professional later told investigators that Scott had been playing the game since 2001.

Danny Smith, defending, told Wolverhampton Crown Court that his client had been eligible for income support and added: "There will be substantial personal mitigation."

Former printer Scott pleaded guilty to failing to inform the Department of Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances between August 23 2002 and November 2 2010 when he received disability living allowance without acknowledging that his mobility had improved.

Judge Robin Onions told Scott said he may be jailed.

He will be sentenced on April 12.

Anybody with information about suspected benefit fraudsters should call 0800 854440.