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| Businessman's £71k benefit fraud | Businessman's £71k benefit fraud |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A businessman must repay £200,000 after admitting claiming £71,000 in benefits while running two successful firms, Swansea Crown Court has heard. | A businessman must repay £200,000 after admitting claiming £71,000 in benefits while running two successful firms, Swansea Crown Court has heard. |
| Norman Gill, 60, was receiving income support and council tax relief while the internet fashion company he ran had an annual turnover of around £90,000. | Norman Gill, 60, was receiving income support and council tax relief while the internet fashion company he ran had an annual turnover of around £90,000. |
| He also owned a "substantial property portfolio", with an income of £3,500 a month from rent, and drove a Mercedes. | He also owned a "substantial property portfolio", with an income of £3,500 a month from rent, and drove a Mercedes. |
| Gill escaped being sent to jail because his wife has multiple sclerosis. | Gill escaped being sent to jail because his wife has multiple sclerosis. |
| He received a 48-week suspended prison term. | He received a 48-week suspended prison term. |
| Prosecuting on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions Peter Jennings told the court that Gill began legitimately claiming income support and council tax relief in 1992 after his business failed. | Prosecuting on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions Peter Jennings told the court that Gill began legitimately claiming income support and council tax relief in 1992 after his business failed. |
| By 2002 he was receiving £255 a week made up of a giro cheque and payment towards his mortgage. | By 2002 he was receiving £255 a week made up of a giro cheque and payment towards his mortgage. |
| He was also enjoying council tax relief on his house in the Langland area of the city. | He was also enjoying council tax relief on his house in the Langland area of the city. |
| Mercedes car | Mercedes car |
| But by that time Gill was running a successful fashion business on the internet and had not notified officials of a change in his circumstances. | But by that time Gill was running a successful fashion business on the internet and had not notified officials of a change in his circumstances. |
| Mr Jennings said the prosecution put the annual turnover at around £95,000 but Gill said it was nearer £88,000. | Mr Jennings said the prosecution put the annual turnover at around £95,000 but Gill said it was nearer £88,000. |
| In 2006 Gill set up a second business - NT Property Management Ltd - to buy, rent and sell homes. | In 2006 Gill set up a second business - NT Property Management Ltd - to buy, rent and sell homes. |
| In total Gill bought 12 houses, five of which he sold for a combined gross profit of £107,000 and the others which he rented out with an income of between £3,000 and £3,500 a month. | In total Gill bought 12 houses, five of which he sold for a combined gross profit of £107,000 and the others which he rented out with an income of between £3,000 and £3,500 a month. |
| Clearly in my view, despite your guilty plea, this offence crosses the custody threshold Judge Peter Heywood | Clearly in my view, despite your guilty plea, this offence crosses the custody threshold Judge Peter Heywood |
| At the time he was interviewed by fraud investigators in July 2007 he had £56,000 in a current account and was driving a top of the range Mercedes. | At the time he was interviewed by fraud investigators in July 2007 he had £56,000 in a current account and was driving a top of the range Mercedes. |
| Mr Jennings said Gill had told investigators he had been trying to build up enough money so he would not have to claim any more benefits. | Mr Jennings said Gill had told investigators he had been trying to build up enough money so he would not have to claim any more benefits. |
| Mr Jennings said in an interview Gill said: "The reason the country is in such a state is because too many people were leaning on the government all the time." | Mr Jennings said in an interview Gill said: "The reason the country is in such a state is because too many people were leaning on the government all the time." |
| The court heard between 2002 and 2007 Gill had claimed almost £71,000 he was not entitled to but the estimated benefit to him from his dishonesty had been £300,000. | The court heard between 2002 and 2007 Gill had claimed almost £71,000 he was not entitled to but the estimated benefit to him from his dishonesty had been £300,000. |
| In mitigation Benjamin Douglas-Jones said Gill had fully accepted his culpability. | In mitigation Benjamin Douglas-Jones said Gill had fully accepted his culpability. |
| "Wholly exceptional" | "Wholly exceptional" |
| He said the fashion company's profits were "not significant" and Gill only enjoyed "a modest income." | He said the fashion company's profits were "not significant" and Gill only enjoyed "a modest income." |
| "This is not a case of extravagant or high living," said the barrister. | "This is not a case of extravagant or high living," said the barrister. |
| Judge Heywood told Gill, who had pleaded guilty to eight charges related to benefit and council tax fraud at a hearing last month, a prison sentence was "richly deserved." | Judge Heywood told Gill, who had pleaded guilty to eight charges related to benefit and council tax fraud at a hearing last month, a prison sentence was "richly deserved." |
| But after hearing how Gill cared for his wife, who has multiple sclerosis, 24 hours a day, he said he was taking the "wholly exceptional" step of suspending the prison term for two years. | But after hearing how Gill cared for his wife, who has multiple sclerosis, 24 hours a day, he said he was taking the "wholly exceptional" step of suspending the prison term for two years. |
| "Clearly in my view, despite your guilty plea, this offence crosses the custody threshold," he said. | "Clearly in my view, despite your guilty plea, this offence crosses the custody threshold," he said. |
| But he added: "I would not only be punishing you by sending you into custody, but of more significance I would be punishing your wife." | But he added: "I would not only be punishing you by sending you into custody, but of more significance I would be punishing your wife." |
| Judge Heywood was told Gill's brother in America had agreed to loan him the £200,000 he must pay in compensation. | |
| A draft for $50,000 would be paid to the Department of Work and Pensions within 14 days and the balance within two years. | A draft for $50,000 would be paid to the Department of Work and Pensions within 14 days and the balance within two years. |