Liverpool FC legend: Fraud charge ex-mayor could walk up football stairs

Oct 9 2007

A FORMER mayor accused of disability benefit fraud used to get free tickets to watch Liverpool in stands accessible by stairs, a court heard.

Ex-mayor of Sefton, John Walker, 57, and his wife Catie, 49, are accused of conspiring to fraudulently obtain income support and disability living allowance.

In a statement read out to Liverpool Crown Court, former LFC assistant manager Phil Thompson said he regularly gave complimentary tickets to Walker, and never witnessed him having mobility problems.

During the trial, the jury has been told the couple failed to declare Walker’s expenses as councillor and mayor, and Catie Walker's job as a taxi escort for children with special needs.

The couple, of Farmer Place, Bootle, each denies the charges.

It is alleged they completed benefits applications which claimed John Walker suffered several disabilities and needed constant care from his wife.

The jury has heard he claimed he was unable to walk more than 20-25 yards without severe pain, and he said he needed assistance when outdoors as he suffered from dizziness and black-outs, frequently falling or stumbling.

The court has also been told Walker claimed he found word selection and speaking a problem.

Former Anfield captain Mr Thompson, now a TV football pundit, was unable to attend court due to professional commitments, the jury heard.

Teresa Loftus, prosecuting, read out a statement from the former Liverpool captain, in which he said he knew Walker through the football club as he would often attend the Melwood training ground and they would speak to each other in the reception area.

Mr Thompson said he would frequently give Walker complimentary tickets to away games. He said: “I never saw him require the use of a wheelchair or any other walking aid.

“I have never seen him disorientated or confused and he was always able to communicate with me.”

The court heard the comp- limentary tickets for Anfield were for seats outside the ground’s disabled access area.

When the Walkers’ home was searched, ticket stubs for an away match at Newcastle United were found and it appeared he had sat in a high section of St James’s Park, accessible by 14 flights of stairs, the court heard.

Noel White, a Liverpool FClub director, said in a statement Walker contacted him and asked him for match tickets, claiming he was suffering from a serious illness.

Mr White said he saw Walker at a Charlton Athletic away game and saw the ex-mayor walking unaided along a rainy street with a knapsack on his back.

The case continues.