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Martial art man's 'benefit fraud' | |
(10 minutes later) | |
A man running twice-weekly martial arts courses was overpaid £11,100 disability living allowance, a court has heard. | |
A fraud investigator watched Adrian Blayney, 49, teaching choi kwang do at Aberdare, Neath magistrates were told. | |
But Mr Blayney, of Cimla, Neath, told the court his role in the classes at Aberdare was mostly supervisory. | |
He denies failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) of changing circumstances, and the trial continues. | |
Prosecutor Claire Templeton told the court Mr Blayney had been claiming the allowance at the highest rate. | Prosecutor Claire Templeton told the court Mr Blayney had been claiming the allowance at the highest rate. |
This was for people either unable to walk or able to walk only in severe pain. | |
He was also in receipt of care allowance at the lowest rate for help in preparing his main meal of the day. | He was also in receipt of care allowance at the lowest rate for help in preparing his main meal of the day. |
There's not a day I can honestly say I'm without pain Adrian Blayney | There's not a day I can honestly say I'm without pain Adrian Blayney |
DWP fraud investigator David Williams told the court in October 2006 they received a tip-off Mr Blayney was teaching martial arts in Neath and Aberdare. | DWP fraud investigator David Williams told the court in October 2006 they received a tip-off Mr Blayney was teaching martial arts in Neath and Aberdare. |
On two occasions, he travelled to a leisure centre in Aberdare where he observed Mr Blayney taking classes. | On two occasions, he travelled to a leisure centre in Aberdare where he observed Mr Blayney taking classes. |
"He seemed to be demonstrating certain movements - lifting his arm and turning his body," said Mr Williams. | "He seemed to be demonstrating certain movements - lifting his arm and turning his body," said Mr Williams. |
He said Mr Blayney, who was dressed in a black uniform with gold lettering, was walking around the hall and interacting with the students. | He said Mr Blayney, who was dressed in a black uniform with gold lettering, was walking around the hall and interacting with the students. |
Mr Blayney was interviewed under caution in January 2007 and his entitlement to the benefits has since been withdrawn. | Mr Blayney was interviewed under caution in January 2007 and his entitlement to the benefits has since been withdrawn. |
'Rest' | 'Rest' |
Giving evidence, Mr Blayney said while working for Ethnic Cuisine in Swansea in 2001 he slipped in a chiller, badly injuring his back. | |
The following year, he suffered a heart attack, which he said made the condition worse. | The following year, he suffered a heart attack, which he said made the condition worse. |
The court heard he was on daily medication for pain relief. | The court heard he was on daily medication for pain relief. |
"There's not a day I can honestly say I'm without pain," he said. | "There's not a day I can honestly say I'm without pain," he said. |
"I can walk a bit but I walk with severe discomfort." | "I can walk a bit but I walk with severe discomfort." |
He told the court that his role running the courses was largely supervisory, with other instructors involved in the more physical aspects. | He told the court that his role running the courses was largely supervisory, with other instructors involved in the more physical aspects. |
"I walk around and rest, walk around and rest," he added. | "I walk around and rest, walk around and rest," he added. |
He said he was involved in teaching close range moves such as hand-grabs and pressure points, which did not involve "large or sudden movements". | |
The court heard that he was overpaid between April 2003 and December 2006. |