'Disabled' bus driver claimed thousands in benefits

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A BUS driver who claimed benefit because he was unable to walk more than ten yards regularly covered the 100-plus yards from his car to where he worked.

Ragbinder Deed’s employers were also unaware of any disability and never saw him using a stick, Warwick Crown Court was told.

The 65-year-old was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years after he had admitted failing to notify a change of circumstances while claiming benefit. A 6pm to 6am curfew from Monday to Thursday was also imposed for two months.

The court heard last week how Deed legitimately began claiming benefit in 2000 on the basis he was unable to work because of diabetes and other medical conditions.

On his claim form he said he needed help with washing and dressing, needed to carry oxygen with him and could only walk ten yards and would black out and his legs fail.

But his condition improved and in 2003 Deed began to work as a bus and coach driver without informing the Department of Work and Pensions of the change in his circumstances.

When he was later questioned about that, Deed said he had been able to do the job because he did not have to walk far from where he parked his car at work.

But the court heard Coventry-based de Courcey, for whom he worked in 2006, say they were unaware of any disability and never saw Deed, who took no sick leave, using a stick.

And at A-Line Coaches, for which Deed also worked, he had to walk 100-plus metres to and from his car.

It was estimated Deed, who did not notify the DVLA of any disability, had been paid around £12,000 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

Recorder Sam Mainds told Deed, of St Nicholas Road, Nuneaton,: "I am not impressed by you or your illness. You really ought to go to prison immediately. You are an intelligent man and knew what you were doing.

"You should have known you should not have claimed social benefit while driving for a living. Some people in this country do not claim when they can, but there are other people like you who do so dishonestly."