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| Caerphilly bogus compensation claim: Leon Wells jailed | Caerphilly bogus compensation claim: Leon Wells jailed |
| (1 day later) | |
| A former soldier has been jailed after making a bogus £28,000 compensation claim for injury against a council. | A former soldier has been jailed after making a bogus £28,000 compensation claim for injury against a council. |
| Leon Wells, 30, of Abertysswg, in Caerphilly county, made up two witnesses to support the case he brought three years after falling down a set of steps. | Leon Wells, 30, of Abertysswg, in Caerphilly county, made up two witnesses to support the case he brought three years after falling down a set of steps. |
| He said his claim had taken so long as he was serving in Afghanistan, but he was actually in jail for manslaughter. | He said his claim had taken so long as he was serving in Afghanistan, but he was actually in jail for manslaughter. |
| Wells was sentenced at Cardiff Civic Justice Centre to four weeks in prison. | Wells was sentenced at Cardiff Civic Justice Centre to four weeks in prison. |
| The court found his case against Caerphilly council to be fraudulent and based on false evidence, and he admitted contempt of court. | The court found his case against Caerphilly council to be fraudulent and based on false evidence, and he admitted contempt of court. |
| Gareth Compton, prosecuting, said: "In pursuing his claim for personal injuries, Wells fabricated two witnesses to the accident. | Gareth Compton, prosecuting, said: "In pursuing his claim for personal injuries, Wells fabricated two witnesses to the accident. |
| "He claimed one witness assisted him and the other gave him a lift home. But when asked about these claims one witness said he knew nothing of the accident while the other gave a surprisingly vague and differing account." | "He claimed one witness assisted him and the other gave him a lift home. But when asked about these claims one witness said he knew nothing of the accident while the other gave a surprisingly vague and differing account." |
| The court heard that Wells, a former Royal Engineer, had been in the Army from the ages of 16 to 21, serving in Macedonia and Sierra Leone. He left due to stress and started work as a plumber. | The court heard that Wells, a former Royal Engineer, had been in the Army from the ages of 16 to 21, serving in Macedonia and Sierra Leone. He left due to stress and started work as a plumber. |
| Wells fell down a set of stairs while on a run in 2006 and suffered a tear in his knee. | Wells fell down a set of stairs while on a run in 2006 and suffered a tear in his knee. |
| In 2008, he killed a 45-year-old man in a fight outside a pub, and was sentenced to three years for manslaughter. | In 2008, he killed a 45-year-old man in a fight outside a pub, and was sentenced to three years for manslaughter. |
| After being released from prison in 2009, he filed a claim against Caerphilly council, saying his previous knee injury was a result of its neglect. | After being released from prison in 2009, he filed a claim against Caerphilly council, saying his previous knee injury was a result of its neglect. |
| The case was about to go to trial but on the first day he withdrew his claim, incurring legal costs of £61,000. The council then launched its own case against him. | The case was about to go to trial but on the first day he withdrew his claim, incurring legal costs of £61,000. The council then launched its own case against him. |
| 'Alarm bells' | 'Alarm bells' |
| Simon Goodman, defending, said: "There was an injury but it was the causation which was disputed by the council. | Simon Goodman, defending, said: "There was an injury but it was the causation which was disputed by the council. |
| "This was a genuine claim which Wells falsely bolstered, he stupidly, foolishly gilded the lily. This is not a man with a history of deception and dishonesty, and he apologies for misleading the court." | "This was a genuine claim which Wells falsely bolstered, he stupidly, foolishly gilded the lily. This is not a man with a history of deception and dishonesty, and he apologies for misleading the court." |
| Judge Wyn Williams told him: "Parts of your claim were fraudulent, parts of your evidence were dishonest. | |
| "You made up two witnesses to bolster your case, making up falsehoods of this kind must be dealt with extremely seriously. I have no choice but to pass an immediate custodial sentence for this contempt of court." | "You made up two witnesses to bolster your case, making up falsehoods of this kind must be dealt with extremely seriously. I have no choice but to pass an immediate custodial sentence for this contempt of court." |
| After the hearing, Caerphilly council said the case had "set alarm bells ringing from the outset". | After the hearing, Caerphilly council said the case had "set alarm bells ringing from the outset". |
| "Every penny paid out to fraudsters is a penny less to spend on vital local services to the people of Caerphilly," said council deputy leader Keith Reynolds. | "Every penny paid out to fraudsters is a penny less to spend on vital local services to the people of Caerphilly," said council deputy leader Keith Reynolds. |