One-legged roof worker suspected of benefit fraud

A ONE-LEGGED man caught working as a roofer during a crackdown on bogus workmen is being investigated over possible benefit fraud.

The man, who has a prosthetic leg, was found clambering up and down scaffolding at a home in North Berwick, East Lothian.

Now investigators from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) are making inquiries to determine whether he falsely claimed disability payments.

The man denied that he was working on the roof itself despite being spotted on the scaffold by DWP investigators who were along on the raid.

He is one of seven men caught now being investigated by the DWP following the five-day operation it ran along with police and trading standards officers.

Among the other people caught in the act was a general labourer on a building site in Dalkeith, Midlothian, who is suspected of claiming invalidity, housing and council tax benefits while in employment.

The multi-agency team conducted checks across Midlothian and East Lothian last week in a bid to track down bogus caller and benefits cheats. The team checked individuals involved in building, roofing, plumbing, heating and window cleaning in the area. The operation was launched to target unscrupulous individuals who carry out shoddy work for inflated prices, as well as those on benefits working cash in hand.

A DWP spokesman said: "The roofer who was caught in North Berwick was working for a roofing contractor. It is possible with some disability benefits to work at the same time and he claims he informed us he was working. The matter will be investigated."

Sergeant Angela Lister, who organised the clampdown from Dalkeith police station, said the bogus caller element to the operation had not produced any results. She said: "

There were a number of bogus caller incidents in the area recently, although we did not uncover any this time.

"This was not a one-shot wonder as we will be doing similar operations again."

A gang of bogus callers who carried out a spate of thefts from homes in Seafield, Kirknewton and Wester Hailes by pretending to be from the water board also targeted Bonnyrigg in Midlothian.

Last month, new figures revealed almost two elderly people are targeted in the Lothians every week by bogus callers.

Chief Superintendent Terry Powell, divisional commander for Midlothian and East Lothian, added: "This is the time of year traditionally when bogus workman activity starts to target households, offering gardening and general maintenance work.

"I welcome this kind of hard-hitting partnership working where we can go out and target those who prey on the vulnerable, as well as those who commit fraud by cheating the benefit system."