MPs and peer among witnesses in trial of former mayor accused of fraud

Sep 18 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

Ex Sefton Mayor John walker, and his wife Catie

TWO MPs and a peer are among witnesses in the trial of a former Merseyside mayor accused of a benefits swindle.

Former Mayor of Sefton John Walker, 57, and his wife, Catie, 49, both face three offences of conspiracy.

The trial, due to begin at Liverpool Crown Court today, will hear that the couple failed to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of payments that Mr Walker received for his mayoral and council duties.

He is also accused of fraudulently claiming Disability Living Allowance and his wife of failing to inform the DWP that she was working.

Among the witnesses for the prosecution will be Joe Benton, the Labour MP for Bootle; John Pugh, the Liberal Democrat MP for Southport; and the former Southport Lib- Dem MP, Lord (Ronnie) Fearn.

Former Liverpool Football Club player Phil Thompson, club secretary William Morrison and board member Noel White were also named as prosecution witnesses along with five pre- vious Sefton mayors.

Mr and Mrs Walker, from Bootle, have pleaded not guilty to the charges which are alleged to have taken place during his year as ceremonial mayor of Sefton in 2005.

His election as mayor caused con- troversy when he was nominated just six months after he became a councillor, as Sefton had pre- viously only permitted members to be nom- minated after six years of public service.

Previously, Sefton had only permitted members to be nominated for mayor after six years of public service.

A jury was yester- day sworn in, and the case was adjourned until today. The trial is expected to last at least six weeks.