Former Tory councillor guilty of £10,000 disability benefit fraud

Former Fylde councillor Albert Pounder, 74, who represented the Conservative party, had denied claiming £10,422,60 in disability living allowance between August 2014 and May 2016, and £467.23 of housing benefit from Fylde Council - the authority he represented - between April 2016 and May 2016.

But jurors at Preston Crown Court found him guilty of two charges of benefit fraud following his trial.

When approached by The Gazette, he refused to comment.

Pounder, of Queens Drive, Staining, represented the village of Staining and was made portfolio holder on Fylde Council for customer and operational services before retiring on health grounds last year.

Pounder dishonestly failed to notify the authorities about his true mobility and care needs.

The court previously heard he has been in receipt of DLA since 1996 and was receiving the high rate mobility component of £57.45 per week and a middle rate care component of £55.10.

Iin a DLA form in 1995 Mr Pounder said walking short distances made him “breathless”, and needed to “rest to regain my breath”.

He said he could only walk 50 yards before he felt severe discomfort, and that he needed assistance getting out of the bath, and with washing my hair, and sometimes needed help climbing stairs.

Surveillance was also conducted at the Staining Village field day in September 2015 at which he was seen walking 200 yards without help before folding and carrying a table.