Benefits cheat who claimed £17,000 disability allowance caught out refereeing football match

Steven Paskin, 46, claimed benefits after complaining he could not walk more than 100 yards without 'extreme tiredness and discomfort'.

But a court heard every weekend Paskin was running around with a whistle in his hand as he reffed local league soccer matches.

Caught out: A still from the video of Steven Paskin refereeing a football match - while he was claiming disability allowance

Benefits chiefs were tipped off and an undercover surveillance team filmed Paskin in action - wearing his black ref's strip as he ran around the pitch.

The court heard it was Paskin's turn to be shown the red card - he is facing jail for falsely claiming disability allowance.

Prosecutor Ian Williams said: 'Paskin claimed he needed day care for his disability. But he managed to pass fitness tests for his local football association.

'Investigators managed to secretly film Paskin officiating at several football matches. This showed an inconsistency with the disability allowance he was claiming.'

The investigation discovered Paskin was registered as a referee with the Gwent County Football Association in South Wales.

Married Paskin, of Newport, Gwent, today admitted falsely claiming £17,375 of disability living allowance between May 2003 and June 2007.

He was released on bail by Caerphilly magistrates and will be sentenced at Newport Crown Court next month.

DWP fraud investigator Kevin McGrath said after the case: 'Paskin was claiming a middle-rate care disability allowance - saying he needed help during the day.

'He told us he couldn't walk further than 100 yards or for longer than 10 minutes without severe discomfort and extreme tiredness.

'Someone with that sort of disability would not have been able to referee a football match.'

Paskin is the third ref in Wales to be netted in a widespread Department of Work and Pensions inquiry targeting football referees.

Mr McGrath said: 'We conducted a proactive exercise where we targeted football referees.

'We were given lists of certified referees and checked them against complaints we were investigating. We are hoping this will serve as a warning to others.'

The Gwent County Football Association today confirmed that Paskin had not registered as a referee for the coming season.