'Clairvoyant and wife in £80k benefit fraud after filmed by secret investigators'
June 7, 2014
A clairvoyant and his wife fraudulently received tens of thousands of pounds in benefits payments after claiming they could barely walk - but two separate secretly filmed videos reveal Tim Abbot working out a vigorous routine in the gym - and his wife on a shopping trip walking and bending with ease.
A STAFFORDSHIRE clairvoyant and his wife who falsely claimed £230,000 in disability benefits were caught after investigators filmed them exercising in a gym and out shopping.
Timothy Abbott, 53, and his wife Janette, 46, conned the taxpayer out of thousands of pounds in disability, council tax and housing benefits after claiming they could barely walk.
Abbott, who claimed £35,496 in incapacity benefit and £22,848 in disability living allowance, was caught when investigators filmed him exercising in a gym.
In the video, taken by undercover fraud investigators working for the Department of Work and Pensions in 2012, Abbott, in a black vest top, can be seen working up a sweat and moving freely.
He was also filmed using heaving dumbbells, an exercise bike, a rowing machine and running on a treadmill.
Abbott, of Stafford, who ran spiritual residential courses, also admitted conning the tax man out of £10,000 by failing to pay income tax or national insurance contributions.
Source: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]His company, Tim Abbott DSNU, advertises himself as an "international spiritualist clairvoyant medium and tutor."
Abott pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances and two counts of making a fraudulent non-payment of income tax when he appeared at Stafford Crown Court.
His wife, also of Stafford, pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances, one count of making a false statement and one of falsely obtaining benefits by deception.
The court heard she falsely claimed £19,477 in disability allowance and £713 in incapacity benefit along with £1,000 in council tax benefit.
She has also admitted falsely claiming thousands of pounds in income support.
She was filmed by investigators on December 7, 2012 bending down and carrying a heavy shoulder bag while on a shopping trip.
The couple, who live in a modern £200,000 detached house in Stafford, were granted unconditional bailed and ordered to return to court on August 1 for sentencing.
Recorder Christopher Bright warned them: "If you do not appear on that date you may be committing an offence."
A DWP spokesman said: "Benefit fraud is a crime and we are dedicated to catching those who commit it.
"Only a small minority of benefit claimants are dishonest, but cases like this cost the taxpayer money that should be used to help those in need.
"We are determined to find those who we suspect are cheating the system by following up on tip-offs, undertaking surveillance and working with local councils."
The story is also captured here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Clairvoyant and his wife who stole £80,000 in benefits said he was so disabled he could barely walk... but was filmed in the GYM
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Clairvoyant and wife in £80k benefit fraud after filmed by secret investigators
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Clairvoyant rumbled as benefit cheat after investigators film him working out at gym
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Another day another psychic caught committing fraud - Timothy Abbott and Janette Abbott from Stafford
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Shame on you, Tim Abbot - on both counts.