Bradford man faces paying back benefits (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford man faces paying back benefits

7:30am Thursday 16th July 2009 in

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A benefit cheat jailed for living “a life of Riley” could be ordered to repay almost £100,000, a court heard yesterday.

Brian Riley, 59, was imprisoned for eight months in November for ripping off the British taxpayer from his home on the island paradise of Sri Lanka.

The sentencing judge said the whole of the £22,000 Riley dishonestly claimed was spent on unnecessary luxury.

Riley, now out of jail, was back at Bradford Crown Court yesterday for a confiscation hearing.

His barrister, Sophie Drake, said the Crown was seeking “substantial amounts” he did not have.

The Department of Work and Pensions believed Riley had hidden assets and was looking to seize as much as £97,000.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer, said Riley stated he lived at Newark Street, West Bowling, Bradford, while pocketing benefits.

He claimed income support, council tax benefit and disability allowance for more than three years after setting up home in Sri Lanka.

The court heard Riley stopped living in Newark Street in February 2005.

Riley, now of Delamere Street, Marshfields, Bradford, married a Sri Lankan woman in March 2007.

He returned to this country because of health problems.

Riley admitted failing to notify the authorities he was no longer resident in the United Kingdom and not telling the Department for Work and Pensions his assets had increased.

Miss Drake told yesterday’s hearing the Crown wanted £56,000 from the sale of the house in Newark Street and £20,000 from the sale of Lemon Cottage in Sri Lanka.

She told Judge Peter Benson that Riley received only half the proceeds from the Bradford house. The remaining £28,000 belonged to a Mr Hopkins.

The Sri Lankan house had been on the market for £20,000 for two and a half years. It was in a civil conflict zone and there had been no interest from buyers.

Miss Drake said a letter giving a realistic, reduced, value for the cottage was on its way from a Sri Lankan lawyer.

Although Riley had his passport back, he could not afford to travel to Sri Lanka to sort matters out. He relied on his wife who is still living there.

Miss Drake asked for the hearing to be delayed so that Riley can provide crucial evidence to prove he does not have the money and assets sought by the Crown.

Judge Benson adjourned the case until October 2.