Ex-mayor 'victim of political grudge'

Oct 25 2007 Mike Hornby Liverpool Daily Post

THE former mayor of Sefton and his wife were accused of swindling benefits because of a political grudge against him, a court heard yesterday.

John Walker, 57, and his wife Catie, 49, face two counts of conspiring to falsify applications for state benefits.

John Gruffydd, defending Mr Walker, told Liverpool Crown Court: “John Walker was stabbed in the back by those who had a grudge against him. This was inspired by the intrigue and backstabbing which is part of politics in Sefton.”

The court has heard the couple obtained nearly £47,000 in disability living allowance and income support while he held public office.

The charges relate to the couple’s failure to declare Walker’s £14,531-a-year expenses as a councillor and mayor, and Catie Walker’s alleged £70-£100 a week job as a taxi escort for disabled children.

The pair, of Farmer Place, Bootle, each deny the allegations.

Mr Walker, who resigned from his seat after the allegations came to light, was reported to the Department for Work and Pensions by an anonymous caller to its Benefits Cheat Hotline.

The jury of five men and seven women were earlier told he suffered the muscle condition fibromyalgia and ME, often known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Teresa Loftus, prosecuting, said the couple had completed benefits applications which claimed John Walker suffered several disabilities and needed round-the-clock care from his wife.

This, she said, was at a time when he was campaigning for political office and attending lengthy civic functions as ceremonial mayor. Suspicions were raised after a report to DWP investigators by a member of a rival political party. The Walkers were inter- viewed and put under surveil- lance at public functions.

Investigators attended the 2005 Remembrance Day service attended by Walker as mayor and also recorded him leading a Christmas carol concert alongside a regional TV presenter.

William Morrison, the secretary of Liverpool FC, said in a written state- ment that Walker wrote to him requesting free tickets because “he had a serious illness”.

The free home game tickets over a number of seasons were given to Walker courtesy of club director Noel White.

In another written state- ment, disputed by the defence, former Anfield player Phil Thompson said he gave Walker six tickets for each LFC away game between 2001 and 2004.

The prosecution says attendance at the games, and at pub sessions afterwards, is further proof that his illness was exaggerated for financial gain.

Walker’s defence says he never attended most of the matches.

Judge Brian Lewis, in his summing up, told the jury to discount evidence they had heard previously that Mrs Walker received a caution for travelling on public transport without a valid ticket.

He said it was of no significance to the trial and both defendants should be regarded as having good character.

The trial was adjourned and the jury is expected to begin its deliberations today.