Fraudster who lived in lap of luxury here jailed

Robin Perrie

UK: A fraudster who clai 0- med nearly pounds 30,000 in benefits while living in luxury in Sri Lanka was jailed on Saturday.

Brian Riley, 48, began collecting income support, council tax benefit and disability living allowance in 2001 when he fell ill. But he continued claiming the benefits after he moved from Bradford to Sri Lanka in 2002 - and really was living the life of Riley.

He used the cash - pounds 28,293.51 - to buy land and property on the tropical island. Riley lived with a young Sri Lankan wife in a beautiful villa.

But he would regularly fly home to sign on. He jetted back to Britain so often that he was a Silver Traveller with Qatar Airways, a privileged frequent flyer customer.

Officials at the Department of Work and Pensions eventually rumbled he was no longer resident in Britain and he was jailed for eight months for fraud.

Riley, who had a quadruple heart by-pass, admitted five counts of dishonesty at Bradford Crown Court.

Judge Roger Scott branded him a “liar by his own admission”. Riley, who did charity work in Sri Lanka, now faces a further hearing where prosecutors will attempt to reclaim the money he claimed. Department of Work Minister Tony McNulty said: “This man thought he could live a life of Riley at the taxpayers’ expense. He was wrong.”

The Sun, UK