Benefits cheat who pocketed £14,000 in handouts by claiming he could barely walk was secretly filmed running around a pitch playing Sunday League FOOTBALL

Gary Wilson, 30, was secretly filmed playing football for a Sunday League team
At the time Wilson was raking in Disability Living Allowance for a bad back
Walsall Magistrates Court heard how, over a four year period, he failed to admit his capabilities had improved between November 2012 and May last year

Published: 15:13 GMT, 26 October 2017 | Updated: 16:11 GMT, 26 October 2017

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Gary Wilson, 30, who pocketed £14,000 in state handouts by claiming he could barely walk was secretly filmed playing football

A benefits cheat who pocketed £14,000 in state handouts by claiming he could barely walk was secretly filmed running around playing centre forward for a Sunday League football team.

Gary Wilson, 30, was caught playing for his Sunday League 11-a-side team while raking in Disability Living Allowance.

The 48-second long footage, filmed by DWP investigators on February 28 last year, showed Wilson dribbling with the ball, slide tackling and shooting at goal while wearing the number 9 shirt.

Walsall Magistrates Court heard how, over a four year period, he failed to admit his capabilities had improved between November 2012 and May last year.

Wilson, from Wolverhampton, admitted to two charges of failure to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change in circumstance affecting social security benefit. He claimed the highest rate of disability benefits on the basis he was virtually unable to walk.

He also told the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) he had severe mobility restrictions as well as care requirements due to crippling arthritis in his hip and spine.

Wilson (in orange) was seen playing football while raking in Disability Living Allowance

He said he needed help to put on his shoes and socks and had difficulty getting out of bed and into the bath without assistance.

Wilson maintained it took him around five minutes to walk 200 yards, moved three or four times slower than a normal person and also needed crutches to get about.

But the 30-year-old was caught out playing for Steelman's Lounge FC in Division 6 of the Wolverhampton & District Sunday Football League.

He was known as being a 'prolific scorer' and scored 26 goals in 16 appearances during the 2014/15 season.

According to website stats he was on the pitch for a total of 1,346 minutes and won two man of the match awards.

The 48-second long footage, filmed by DWP investigators on February 28 last year, showed Wilson playing Sunday League football

Wilson, wearing the number nine shirt, takes a shot at goal in the secretly recorded footage

The 30-year-old was also seen throwing himself to the ground during the football match

Wilson, who was playing as a centre forward, was seen chasing after defenders in the match

The defendant, wearing a blue Adidas tracksuit, was told sentencing today would be adjourned due to his ill health.

The matter will now be heard on November 15 after he was granted unconditional bail.

Adjourning the case, District Judge David Webster told Wilson: 'Mr Wilson, it is apparent to anyone who can see you that you are not looking well and I do not want to add to that by having you sit here while sentencing takes place.

'This will happen on November 15 in the afternoon. I grant you bail to appear before this court on this day at 1.30pm.

'If you fail to turn up on November 15, that's a separate offence which could result in your imprisonment.'

The court heard how Wilson had also failed to notify the DWP he had been in remunerated employment between January 2 2013 and February 22 2013.

He did not comment as he left court.

Wilson, appearing at Walsall Magistrates' Court, was seen playing football while he was claiming benefits for a bad back

Walsall Magistrates Court heard how, over a four year period, he failed to admit his capabilities had improved between November 2012 and May last year