Ex-mayor guilty of benefits fraud

Nov 2 2007 Mike Hornby Liverpool Daily Post

A FORMER mayor and his wife were yesterday convicted of swindling state benefits.

John Walker, 57, a former Labour mayor of Sefton, was accused of plotting with his wife Catie, 48, to exaggerate his ill health to obtain disability living allowance (DLA) and income support.

The couple, of Farmers Place, Bootle, were found guilty of conspiracy to dishonestly obtain £32,871 in DLA.

When the foreman returned the verdict at Liverpool Crown Court – following almost 22 hours of delibera- tion by the jury – 57-year-old Walker held his wife’s hand but otherwise the couple showed no emotion.

The jury has still failed to agree verdicts on another conspiracy charge, which they also deny, involving obtaining £4,161 income support by failing to declare that 48-year-old Catie was working for a taxi firm.

The jurors will resume their deliberations today.

Teresa Loftus, prosecuting, told the court that the information given by the couple on their claim forms was “a tissue of lies”.

John Walker claimed DLA on the basis he could only walk a few yards, had dizzy spells and needed round-the- clock care as he suffers from ME and the muscle condition, fibromyalgia. He also claimed difficulty trouble communicating verbally.

But during the six-week trial, the jury heard evidence from a string of witnesses who saw him performing various roles while a Labour councillor and as mayor without any obvious difficulties.

He also walked unaided from Liverpool FC to a city centre pub for after-match drinks.

He was caught out when fraud inspectors filmed him attending lengthy civic func- tions and making political speeches.

His wife denies she was paid for escorting an autistic boy to school and for distri- buting cards for the taxi firm.

Walker initially fell ill in 1998, suffering ME, commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia, which causes muscle fatigue.

The prosecution said that while he was undoubtedly ill in those early days, the effects of the illnesses began to wear off and he was able to resume a normal life and a political career.

The Walkers said he battled through his illness to fulfil his public commitments and the allegations, originally made in a letter to the Department for Work and Pensions by a member of a rival party, were politically motivated.

After the verdict a spokes- woman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “Benefit fraud is theft – full stop. We are committed to catching benefit thieves and bringing tough penalties against those who commit these crimes.”

The case continues.