Ex-mayor jailed for benefit fraud

A former Labour Mayor and his wife have been jailed for fraudulently claiming state benefits.

John Walker, formerly the Mayor of Sefton, was jailed for 15 months and his wife Catie was sentenced to eight months, after the pair plotted to swindle almost £37,000 in Disability Living Allowance and Income Support.

The couple, who had used the money to pay for their daughter's private school fees, denied the charges but were found guilty at the end of a six-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Mr Walker, 57, regularly walked unaided from Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC, to a pub in the city centre for after-match drinks and was spotted performing various roles while serving as a Labour councillor and as mayor, without any obvious physical difficulties, a jury heard.

Walker was caught out when fraud inspectors filmed him attending lengthy civic functions and making political speeches.

Catie Walker, 49, had denied she was paid for escorting an autistic boy to school and for distributing cards for a taxi firm.

The Walkers said John battled through his illness, commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome, to fulfil his public commitments and the allegations were politically motivated.

The Walkers bowed their heads as Judge Brian Lewis said they represented a "persistent and serious" abuse of the benefits system over a long period of time.

The couple's 17-year-old daughter, Emma, broke down in tears as he parents were told by the Judge Lewis: "You have shown no remorse. You blamed others for your predicament.

"The overwhelming mass of evidence in that lengthy trial clearly exposes the mendacious fiction of your benefit claim forms as the two of you postured in civic finery as well as being chauffeured round in a publicly-funded limousine.

"You have stained the reputation of the Mayoralty and let down those who put you there."

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