Well, I Needed The Money For Something ...

Thanks to SCF Readers Sue & David for the tip!

Courtesy of IC Wales

A BENEFITS cheat was caught after he showed off his souped-up £12,500 car in a boy racer's magazine.

Hatchback fan Llewellyn Luce, 28, claimed dole, but officials were amazed that he could afford to rig his car with a PlayStation and television with surround sound. Fraud investigators discovered he was earning illegal cash by modifying ordinary motors into flashy supercars to sell to other boy racers.

Luce was only caught out because he had a double-page feature on his Citroen Saxo in enthusiasts' magazine Revs. Despite claiming benefits, his car had a personalised number plate, a £2,300 sound system and a specialist paint job which changed colour in different lights.

An expert who examined the Saxo found it was worth £12,500. The unmodified version was worth £4,000.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Pearson said, "It didn't seem possible that somebody who was claiming income support and benefits would be able to modify a vehicle to that extent.

"Luce was clearly leading a lifestyle which far outstripped his legitimate means.

"He had a personalised number L77 UCE. The stereo system alone was worth £2,300.

"The paint job was worth £2,000. Luce was caught after officers saw the article in the Revs magazine.

"They set up a surveillance operation on the garage at his home. Luce was seen working on four cars and two motorbikes."

Cardiff Crown Court heard he was running a car valeting business and trading modified Vauxhall Astras while claiming income support, housing support and council tax relief.

He was using the money to finance a lavish lifestyle. When police raided his home they found keys for three cars and three motorbikes, an £850 plasma-screen TV, DVD player, games console and £2,500 cash. Luce insisted the equipment was given to him as gifts, some of it in exchange for helping in his cousin's garage.

But officers found he had spent £47,413 in three years and ran up bills of £300 a month on his mobile phone.

Miss Pearson said, "He said he only used his mobile phone in emergencies. Interesting when one looks at the size of the bills."

Cardiff Crown Court heard the father-of-two's income from benefits during that time was more than £12,000. He claimed £6,167 for income support, £5,191 housing benefit and £1,000 council tax benefit.

Despite apparently being on benefit, Miss Pearson said he was able to quickly find £1,000 to pay off his mother's rent arrears and stop her being evicted in 2004.

He began claiming benefits legitimately when suffering anxiety and depression, the court was told.

Hilary Roberts, defending, said Luce was unable to work because of his disability.

"He is not a lazy person," she said.

Luce, of Pontypool, Gwent, was jailed for eight months after he admitted making false representations and obtaining money by deception.

Sentencing him, Judge Christopher Llewellyn Jones said, "You are simply a fraudster who has taken advantage of a system which helps people in need.

"You are, in my judgment, the sort of person who brings all honest claimants of income support, social security and other benefits into disrepute.

"You used the money to lead an extravagant lifestyle. People who commit offences of this nature must face custody."

Luce was caught after boasting to other boy racers that his car attracted massive attention.

A feature on the Saxo appeared under the headline "Gladiator" in Revs magazine in March 2004.

Luce described his Citroen as a "chariot on tyres".

And he told the £4.25 magazine, "You would be surprised how much attention this gets. Some of my mates' girl friends won't let them come out cruising with me because of it.

"It attracts so much attention it's daft."

The article reads, "All you really need to be a Roman warrior in this day and age is a double-hard Saxo..."

Outside court, Det Supt Tom Andrews, of Gwent Police, said Luce's decision to show off his car in the glossy pictures was "arrogant and stupid".

He added, "We will co-operate with all the other agencies to ensure that people who commit criminal offences are disrupted."