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Abingdon scaffolder falsely claimed benefits

7:46pm Tuesday 7th July 2009


A man has been told he must stay in his house during the day after falsely claiming benefits of almost £9,000.

Didcot Magistrates’ Court heard Matthew Bowmer, of the Hawthorns, Abingdon, had received incapacity, housing and council tax benefits, while working as a scaffolder.

The 32-year-old was arrested after giving false information on a claim form for a discretionary hardship payment, which was spotted by benefit officers.

He was given a 120-day curfew order, preventing him from leaving his house between 7am and 7pm.

He admitted wrongfully claiming £2,252 in incapacity benefit, £6,020 in housing benefit and £619 in council tax benefit.

Bowmer had originally been unemployed and claimed incapacity payments due to anxiety and agoraphobia.

He was ordered to pay back the money to the Vale of White Horse District Council and the Department of Work and Pensions.

Jerry Patterson, the Vale’s executive member for finance, said: “Bowmer admitted his guilt and I hope he learns his lesson in future.”


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Kidlington Dave, Kidlington says...
10:44pm Tue 7 Jul 09

sorry - he's got to pay back almost 10 grand whilst not leaving the house during working hours? Maybe I'm thick but how does that make sense? Stop his benefits and make him work the money off. Then cut his hands off.

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Old zimner, Oxford says...
9:42am Wed 8 Jul 09

At least he can still go out pubbing and clubbing

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Leach Valley Yellow, Oxford says...
9:48am Wed 8 Jul 09

Kidlington Dave wrote:
sorry - he's got to pay back almost 10 grand whilst not leaving the house during working hours? Maybe I'm thick but how does that make sense? Stop his benefits and make him work the money off. Then cut his hands off.
Well said - completely farcical decision. It's been proven that he can work, so he should work - however instead he gets a four-month holiday at our expense. The curfew should be 7pm - 7am, after a day's work, to make sure he's got no chance to spend the money that he stole off US.

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LadyPenelope, Oxford says...
10:37am Wed 8 Jul 09

This is crazy!!

He's obviously capable of working, so he should be spending 12 hours a day working to pay off his debt!

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haltaiar, Oxford says...
10:41am Wed 8 Jul 09

They will cut off the benefits & he will pay the money back.

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online_reader, says...
10:41am Wed 8 Jul 09

I agree with the other posters - how can it be that he's been caught working while on benefits and instead of stopping the benefits they've stopped him working? I mean honestly, 'agoraphobic ordered to stay in' - it isn't April 1st is it?

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Wantage Man, Wantage says...
11:00am Wed 8 Jul 09

he could deal drugs to pay it off?

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wallingford1, wallingford says...
12:46pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Knowing what reporters and articles are like on here....it's more than likely it's the other way around.....curfew from 7pm til 7am and some reporter just wrote down the numbers without really paying that much attention.

huh huh...security word...need-earn!!! 8-)

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wallingford1, wallingford says...
12:47pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Knowing what reporters and articles are like on here....it's more than likely it's the other way around.....curfew from 7pm til 7am and some reporter just wrote down the numbers without really paying that much attention.

huh huh...security word...need-earn!!! 8-)

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Berty, Abingdon says...
8:40pm Wed 8 Jul 09

I would LOVE a job where I could make up facts, cut off the tops of heads and write rubbish.

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