Paranormal investigator Mick Wessex swindled £147,500 by fraudulently claiming benefits on his Stoke-on-Trent home – while he was working as a private paranormal investigator in the nearby Staffordshire Moorlands town of Leek!
The dwarf pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to notify the authorities about changes to his working status at Fenton Magistrates Court yesterday. Prosecutor Pete Krabbs said: "The amount of money involved is £147,500, which might not be much to the hoity-toity people of Leek, but in Stoke, you could quite literally buy a castle with that many clams."
The dwarf pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to notify the authorities about changes to his working status at Fenton Magistrates Court yesterday. Prosecutor Pete Krabbs said: "The amount of money involved is £147,500, which might not be much to the hoity-toity people of Leek, but in Stoke, you could quite literally buy a castle with that many clams."
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| Mick Wessex |
Stoke City Council is taking steps to recover that by taking weekly deductions from Mr Wessex's benefits. Mr Wessex was in receipt of pension credits, disability living allowance, council tax, housing benefit, income support and jobseeker’s allowance. £1 will be deducted each week until the £147,500 is paid in full.
The court heard Mr Wessex suffers with back pain caused by an assault outside of The Ca$hino at Festival Park, and he hoped the warmer climate of Leek could help alleviate the condition.
He was sentenced to serve one week on death row at HMP Werrington to be followed by 100 hours of community service. He must also pay £10 towards prosecution costs at a rate of £0.50 per week.
