This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/16/former-police-officer-vaughan-dodds-jailed-illegally-claiming-benefits

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Former police officer jailed for illegally claiming benefits Former police officer jailed for illegally claiming benefits
(35 minutes later)
A former policeman who worked in Tony Blair’s protection force has been jailed for illegally claiming more than £55,000 in benefits, which he used to fund holidays and a private-school education for his children.A former policeman who worked in Tony Blair’s protection force has been jailed for illegally claiming more than £55,000 in benefits, which he used to fund holidays and a private-school education for his children.
Vaughan Dodds, 45, a former officer with Durham police, had claimed disability living allowance, income support and council tax on the basis that his ME left him housebound and that he could only walk for five minutes without suffering severe discomfort. Vaughan Dodds, 45, a former officer with Durham police, claimed disability living allowance, income support and council tax on the basis that his ME left him housebound and that he could only walk for five minutes without suffering severe discomfort.
But investigators secretly filmed him working out in the gym with his wife, Mandy, who he had also claimed was sick, and unearthed holiday photos showing the couple in the cabin of a cruise ship and riding a camel. He was convicted of nine charges out of 12 after a trial at Teesside crown court. But investigators secretly filmed him working out in the gym with his wife, Mandy, whom he had also claimed was sick, and unearthed holiday photos showing the couple in the cabin of a cruise ship and riding a camel. He was convicted of nine charges out of 12 after a trial at Teesside crown court.
Sentencing Dodds to two-and-a-half years in prison, Judge Graham Cook said the case was “made far worse by the fact you were a serving police officer and the public expect more of a serving officer or a former officer because you more than most know the difference between right and wrong”.Sentencing Dodds to two-and-a-half years in prison, Judge Graham Cook said the case was “made far worse by the fact you were a serving police officer and the public expect more of a serving officer or a former officer because you more than most know the difference between right and wrong”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “Only a small minority of benefit claimants are dishonest, but cases like this show how we are rooting out the unscrupulous minority who are cheating the system and diverting taxpayers’ money from those who really need it.A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “Only a small minority of benefit claimants are dishonest, but cases like this show how we are rooting out the unscrupulous minority who are cheating the system and diverting taxpayers’ money from those who really need it.
“We are determined to find those we suspect of abusing the welfare system by following up on tip-offs, undertaking surveillance and working with local councils.”“We are determined to find those we suspect of abusing the welfare system by following up on tip-offs, undertaking surveillance and working with local councils.”
As an appointee for his wife Mandy, Dodds had also claimed her illness left her highly sensitive to sound, and said the “crackling of the bed sheets or the pillow can not only awaken her but cause pain”. He even said the sound of toilet tissue being ripped was too much for her to cope with.As an appointee for his wife Mandy, Dodds had also claimed her illness left her highly sensitive to sound, and said the “crackling of the bed sheets or the pillow can not only awaken her but cause pain”. He even said the sound of toilet tissue being ripped was too much for her to cope with.
However, an investigation into the couple’s benefits claims found they went on numerous holidays, made payments of almost £35,000 to health and beauty salons, spent thousands on hotels and restaurants and sent their son and a daughter to fee-paying schools.However, an investigation into the couple’s benefits claims found they went on numerous holidays, made payments of almost £35,000 to health and beauty salons, spent thousands on hotels and restaurants and sent their son and a daughter to fee-paying schools.
Photos showed Dodds and his wife apparently dancing and jumping on the bed in a cruise ship cabin, while surveillance footage taken by DWP investigators showed him walking around a supermarket and his wife blowdrying hair in a beauty salon – despite her claimed intolerance to noise.Photos showed Dodds and his wife apparently dancing and jumping on the bed in a cruise ship cabin, while surveillance footage taken by DWP investigators showed him walking around a supermarket and his wife blowdrying hair in a beauty salon – despite her claimed intolerance to noise.
Dodds had claimed the money despite having been left £250,000 and a £160,000 house in Spennymoor, County Durham, in his father’s will in 2007, O’Sullivan said. The jury heard that he had failed to declare the inheritance, which would have affected how much he was entitled to.Dodds had claimed the money despite having been left £250,000 and a £160,000 house in Spennymoor, County Durham, in his father’s will in 2007, O’Sullivan said. The jury heard that he had failed to declare the inheritance, which would have affected how much he was entitled to.
Graham O’Sullivan, prosecuting, told the trial at Teesside crown court: “The prosecution make no bones about it. We say this money was dishonestly obtained. We say it was used by Mr Dodds and his wife to fund a comfortable lifestyle – a lifestyle this couple could not otherwise have afforded.” Graham O’Sullivan, prosecuting, told the trial: “The prosecution make no bones about it. We say this money was dishonestly obtained. We say it was used by Mr Dodds and his wife to fund a comfortable lifestyle – a lifestyle this couple could not otherwise have afforded.”
Nigel Soppitt, defending, had argued prison would be a “bleak and stark place” for a former officer where he would be left vulnerable. He described him as a “broken man” and said he was “deeply, deeply sorry” for what he had done.Nigel Soppitt, defending, had argued prison would be a “bleak and stark place” for a former officer where he would be left vulnerable. He described him as a “broken man” and said he was “deeply, deeply sorry” for what he had done.
The DWP said it began investigating Dodds’s case in August 2012 after a routine check on his benefits claims that found he had undeclared capital in his bank accounts. The investigation continued for 11 months before the agency took the decision to prosecute and asked the police to make an arrest.The DWP said it began investigating Dodds’s case in August 2012 after a routine check on his benefits claims that found he had undeclared capital in his bank accounts. The investigation continued for 11 months before the agency took the decision to prosecute and asked the police to make an arrest.
The Press Association contributed to this reportThe Press Association contributed to this report