The fraudster had pocketed £19,000 in claims from the DWP (Image: William Barton via Getty Images)
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decision maker who fraudulently pocketed £19,000 by pretending to have severe mobility issues was caught red-handed making regular gym visits and going on walks. Clifford Redman, 57, a DWP employee in charge of Personal Independence Payments (PIP), claimed he had serious health problems that required daily help.
However, when his health improved, he failed to notify the DWP. He was put under surveillance and secretly filmed hitting the gym, taking long solo walks and even lifting furniture out of a car boot.
The court was told that Facebook posts showed him walking barefoot on soft sand at the beach and effortlessly bending over to put his shoes and leg brace back on.
When confronted with the footage, Redman confessed to having “bad days and good days”, expressed surprise at what he saw, and credited his health improvements to gym workouts. Newcastle Crown Court was told that Redman had been a PIP decision maker, a job he has since lost, according to Chronicle Live.
Prosecutor Graham O’Sullivan said: “As such he had a highly developed knowledge of the system of claiming and entitlement to PIP.”
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The court heard that Redman had lodged a legitimate PIP application in July 2017, which was enhanced in 2019 following his disagreement with the initial standard rate decision.
He declared he was battling numerous ailments, including spinal arthritis, left foot paralysis, diabetes, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, tennis elbow and frozen shoulder.
Additional complaints encompassed right knee arthritis, fibromyalgia, alongside social isolation difficulties, depression and diminished self-esteem.
He maintained he required support with mobility, personal hygiene, toilet use, getting undressed and meal preparation.
Mr O’Sullivan explained that Redman’s application became fraudulent in March 2020 when his health improved – yet he neglected to notify the DWP.
A secret probe was initiated and monitoring took place on 17 separate dates between August 1 and August 24, 2022.
Mr O’Sullivan revealed: “The defendant was observed during the surveillance leaving his property, quite often seen out alone. On other occasions he was accompanied by a male but there were no concessions being made to the defendant on the grounds of his reduced mobility.”
Clifford claimed he had serious health problems and required daily help (Image: Getty)
He was witnessed covering distances of up to three miles, exercising his dog daily without difficulty, occasionally even lifting the animal.
He was routinely seen walking for more than an hour, tackling steep slopes, and regularly visiting the gymnasium, sometimes within 30 minutes of completing a dog walk. The prosecutor, Mr O’Sullivan, disclosed that between February 29, 2020 – March 20, 2020 and August 5, 2020 and August 18, 2020, the man made 22 visits to the gym.
“He was seen during the course of the surveillance lifting furniture from a car boot and carrying it.
“He was seen wearing a leg brace just below the knee but never seen by the operative to use any walking aid and never seen to make use of hand rails when available. It was evident to the surveillance officers there really was no evidence of him experiencing pain or discomfort when walking,” added Mr O’Sullivan.
Additional evidence emerged from the man’s own Facebook page, which displayed photographs of him at the beach, walking on sand without assistance, and bending down to put on his shoes and leg brace with ease. Mr O’Sullivan concluded: “He undertook a range of activities in summary, which on the basis of his submissions to the department he should not have and could not have done.”
Redman, from Whitburn Terrace, Sunderland, admitted guilt to a charge of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting entitlement to benefit, from March 2020 and February 2023.
Recorder Caroline Sellars handed Redman, who has never been in trouble before, a 12-month community order with rehabilitation and alcohol treatment requirements. She observed that alcohol use has likely worsened Redman’s mental health issues and recognised his serious physical health challenges.
Recorder Sellars remarked: “This is made more remarkable given you were an employee of the DWP for quite some time. As an employee for the DWP, and shockingly given you had the role as a decision maker in PIP payments, you clearly had a high level of knowledge of what was required by applicants from that benefit, what information was required and the need to notify any change.”
Jamie Adams, defending, said Redman has been under enormous stress with physical and mental health problems and was diagnosed with a serious condition after he pleaded guilty. Redman has paid some of the £19,246 overpayment back to the DWP and has vowed to repay the balance.
A spokesperson for the DWP stated: “We take fraud extremely seriously and when there is evidence of wrongdoing, an employee is subject to disciplinary action and dismissal, and cases are also referred for consideration for criminal prosecution.”