Sexy Lingerie Salesman Snared for Benefit Fraud

A FRAUDSTER has been ordered to pay more than £13,000 after falsely claiming benefits while selling racy underwear online.

Charnwood Borough Council issued civil proceedings to recover cash after discovering Graham Hearn was running web-based Pleasurewear Ltd while claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance and Housing Benefit.

Hearn, of Brookside Road, Loughborough, claimed £10,827.87 in housing benefit between December 2003 and August 2006 but failed to tell the Council of a change in his circumstances.

He was ordered to pay back a total of £12,128.33 for the debt and interest, together with Council costs of £1,042.33 – a total of £13,170.66.

Councillor Jenny Bokor, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Revenue, Benefits and Customer Service, said: “This Council takes benefit fraud extremely seriously and will always seek to reclaim money which has been illegally stolen from the taxpayer.

“In this case, our officers worked diligently to expose Hearn’s fraud and our legal team then put together a strong case to reclaim the stolen money.

“It was a good team effort and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring fraudsters do not get away with it. Let this case serve as a warning to others that crime doesn’t pay and that we will always take action.”

The debt recovery case was heard at Leicester County Court in August 2011 but details have only now been released as his permission to appeal was refused on January 5, 2012.

Criminal proceedings were also taken and on May 18 2009, Hearn pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonesty in relation to the overpayment claim.