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| Mother and son Thai benefit fraud | Mother and son Thai benefit fraud |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| A Swansea man who claimed more than £11,000 in benefits while living in Thailand for 18 months was helped by his teacher mother, a court has heard. | A Swansea man who claimed more than £11,000 in benefits while living in Thailand for 18 months was helped by his teacher mother, a court has heard. |
| Thomas Clancey, 31, of Loughor, even got married while overseas and Sybil Lloyd, 56, of Llanelli, would fill in his forms and send them to him to sign. | Thomas Clancey, 31, of Loughor, even got married while overseas and Sybil Lloyd, 56, of Llanelli, would fill in his forms and send them to him to sign. |
| Both admitted three charges relating to benefit fraud. | Both admitted three charges relating to benefit fraud. |
| At Swansea Magistrates' Court Clancey was given a 12-month community order and his mother was fined £750. | At Swansea Magistrates' Court Clancey was given a 12-month community order and his mother was fined £750. |
| Both were also told to pay £75 costs, and Lloyd must also pay a £15 victims' surcharge. | Both were also told to pay £75 costs, and Lloyd must also pay a £15 victims' surcharge. |
| Prosecuting, John Allchurch said Clancey moved to Thailand in August 2005 and did not return until February 2007. | Prosecuting, John Allchurch said Clancey moved to Thailand in August 2005 and did not return until February 2007. |
| Whilst overseas he was in receipt of severe disability allowance, housing benefit, council tax and income support totalling £11,268. Many people from the UK living in Thailand were also claiming benefits What Thomas Clancey is said to have told investigators | Whilst overseas he was in receipt of severe disability allowance, housing benefit, council tax and income support totalling £11,268. Many people from the UK living in Thailand were also claiming benefits What Thomas Clancey is said to have told investigators |
| The money was paid to his mother, who would then transfer sums to his bank account in Thailand. | The money was paid to his mother, who would then transfer sums to his bank account in Thailand. |
| When interviewed by investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions and Swansea council, Clancey initially denied doing anything wrong. | When interviewed by investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions and Swansea council, Clancey initially denied doing anything wrong. |
| Mr Allchurch said Clancey told investigators that "many people from the UK living in Thailand were also claiming benefits". | Mr Allchurch said Clancey told investigators that "many people from the UK living in Thailand were also claiming benefits". |
| During interview his mother answered "no comment" to all allegations put to her. | During interview his mother answered "no comment" to all allegations put to her. |
| In mitigation, Simon Howell said both had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. | In mitigation, Simon Howell said both had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. |
| He said all the money had been paid back "at a very early stage in the investigation". | He said all the money had been paid back "at a very early stage in the investigation". |
| He said that when Clancey initially started claiming benefits they were genuine. | He said that when Clancey initially started claiming benefits they were genuine. |
| He had suffered mental health and drug problems following the death of his brother which meant he could not work, said Mr Howell. | |
| Clancey had initial only gone to Thailand for "two to three" months as part of his recovery, added the solicitor. | Clancey had initial only gone to Thailand for "two to three" months as part of his recovery, added the solicitor. |
| But he said both mother and son "had shown genuine remorse" for not having informed authorities of the change in circumstances. | But he said both mother and son "had shown genuine remorse" for not having informed authorities of the change in circumstances. |