A FORMER HGV driver who ‘lost his livelihood’ when his licence was revoked following a serious illness found himself in court after he dishonestly claimed £1,700 in benefits by working more than his permitted hours.
62-year-old Dudley Evans, of Maes yr Haf Pwll, pleaded guilty to three charges of dishonestly failing to notify the relevant authorities of a change in circumstances which would affect his entitlement to benefit.
Prosecuting, Lisa Jones explained that the total overpayment over a period of 18 months, amounted to £1,714.47, and the DW and Carmarthenshire County Council would be recovering the money themselves.
She added that Evans had failed to attend an interview under caution because he had been working.
The court heard that Evans had one previous conviction for a similar matter in 2014, but as defence solicitor Steve Lloyd explained, that had been his first time before court.
“Since he left school he has always been in work. However, a few years ago he suffered a serious illness, which left him in a coma for two weeks, and his HGV and PSV licences were revoked,” Mr Lloyd added.
After being out of work, Evans gained permission to do a certain number of hours, but exceeded these, ‘hence his first conviction’.
Following ‘certain upheavals’ which left him in debt, Evans tried to return to work again, but once again worked more hours than he should have without declaring this.
“I am happy to say he is back in full-time work, and no longer claiming benefits,” Mr Lloyd added.
Evans was sentenced to a 12 month community order, with 100 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay prosecution costs and a victim surcharge totalling £170.
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