Thames Valley Police in Benefit Fraud

A FORMER policeman who fraudulently pocketed more than £74,000 in a benefits scam has been jailed for two years.

Timothy Dunning, who used to work for Thames Valley Police, admitted swindling the cash from West Oxfordshire District Council and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) over seven-and-a-half years. 

Sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday, Recorder Richard Prior told the 53-year-old his offending was "wholly dishonest".

He added: "As a former police officer, much more would have been expected of you. Instead, this was a sophisticated and sustained benefits fraud.

"I'm disappointed to read in your pre-sentence report that the probation officer did not find you wholly honest in what you said to him."

Prosecutor Patrick Dennis said Dunning's offending was "dripping with dishonesty from every conceivable corner."

He said Dunning started fraudulently claiming housing benefit for his property in Ansell Way, Milton-under-Wychwood, in 2008, later claiming council tax benefit and employment support allowance.

Mr Dennis said Dunning lied to the council, telling officers his benefits must be paid to his landlord "Philip Winterbottom", who had bought his house and was renting it to him.

He went on to tell the court Dunning, who was born "Philip Winterbottom", submitted a fake rental agreement to the council while continuing to claim help for interest payments on his mortgage.

Mr Dennis said the defendant also failed to declare he was receiving a police pension, getting a lump sum of £41,677.88 in December 2012 and then an annual sum of £16,640.

He also did not tell the council his partner, who he was living with, was working.

Defence barrister Graham Bennett said Dunning was drinking alcohol frequently while he worked as a policeman for at least 25 years.

He said he was convicted of drink-driving in 2007, leaving his job in the force the following year and facing "financial difficulty" as he was unable to claim his police pension until 2012.

Mr Bennett added: "He has accepted by his guilty plea, that he behaved in a dishonest way."

He went on to say Dunning, who had since moved to Shropshire, would face "difficulties in prison" once inmates discovered he was a police officer.

Dunning, who must pay a victim surcharge, admitted four counts of fraud between February 2008 and August 2015.

Toby Morris, cabinet member for council tax and benefits at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We welcome the outcome of this case which clearly illustrates that we will not tolerate benefit fraud.”