Published: Wednesday, 28th May, 2008 11:00
Karaoke benefit scammer feels the blues
By court reporter
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A KARAOKE singer was feeling the blues after being jailed for a £17,000 sickness benefit fraud.
John Campbell, 59, worked a three-year scam as a karaoke presenter and MC while pretending to be too unwell for employment.
His regular gigs at the Crown Inn in Irvine, Ayrshire, and the Number 0 Social Club in Kilwinning came to an end after an anonymous tip-off to DSS chiefs.
Campbell, of Blacklands Avenue, Kilwinning, admitted fraud by making false declarations for incapacity benefit between October 2002 and May 2007.
The father-of-three had originally been charged with pocketing £20,000, but the sum was reduced when he agreed to plead guilty.
Fraser Alexander, defending, told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court Campbell realised what he did was wrong but had “buried his head in the sand”.
He offered no excuses and knew he was facing a custodial sentence, Mr Fraser added.
Campbell was paying the money back in instalments from his existing benefits, the court heard.
Jailing Campbell for four-and-a-half months - reduced from six months because of his early plea - Sheriff Alistair Watson told him it was a serious offence involving taxpayers’ money.
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