Sefton, UK ex-mayor jailed

December 3, 2007

The former Mayor of Sefton in the United Kingdom has been jailed for fraudulantly obtaining state benefits.

John Walker and his wife Catie, were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud at Liverpool Crown Court and of exaggerating ill health to obtain disability living allowance.

The Judge Brian Lewis described the fraud as "a disgraceful breach of trust".

He was jailed for 15 months for conspiring to defraud £32,871.85 in Disability Living Allowance together with a six months concurrently sentence for conspiracy to defraud £4,000.25 in Income Support.

His wife, Catie Walker, was jailed for eight months for the DLA offence and a concurrent four months for the Income Support swindle.