Billingham benefits fraudster who claimed benefits for five years says he was 'bad at maths'

AN inheritance beneficiary who wrongly claimed benefits for five years told investigators he was “bad at maths”, a court heard.

Raymond Knox, 52, started claiming benefits legitimately in 2001 as an unemployed man with no income, capital or savings more than £2,500.

He received income support and council tax benefit without declaring an inheritance in 2008, Teesside Crown Court was told today.

It emerged he had capital of more than £20,000 in bank accounts which he never reported to the authorities, said prosecutor Paul Reid.

He was paid some £13,000 in benefits to which he was not entitled, mostly income support, between 2008 and 2013. He’d claimed he only had £1,160 in savings.

When interviewed, Knox said: “I’m bad at maths and counting up. I didn’t believe I had that amount of money.

“I’ve just not bothered to think. I look at something, go ‘um yeah’ and sign it. That’s all I do. No is always the simplest answer.”

He said he had dyslexia and his writing and spelling was terrible.

Knox, of Grosvenor Road, Billingham, admitted three counts of benefit fraud - his first conviction.

He is paying back the money to the government through deductions in his benefits.

Andrew White, defending, said Knox worked hard for decades as a railway plate layer and never wanted to be on benefits but had to give up work because of his and his wife’s ill health.

Mr White added: “This claim was not fraudulent from the outset. From 2001 to 2008 it was an entirely legitimate claim.

“He does struggle badly with official forms. He tells me he’s hopeless with numbers.

“But he accepts he should have got help with it and he’s been a fool.”

He said Knox found the court case extremely traumatic and wanted to pay the money back.

“Clearly if he was given an immediate custodial sentence that wouldn’t be possible. It would be costing the taxpayer money,” added Mr White.

Judge Peter Armstrong said the benefit fraud did not involve vast amounts each year but the total became significant.

He told Knox: “It stands you in good stead to have reached the age of 52 without a blemish on your character.”

He said this, the repayments and Knox’s early guilty pleas enabled him to suspend a six-month prison sentence for a year.