Teh One Who Knocks
12-18-2015, 11:56 AM
Oliver Wheaton for Metro.co.uk
http://i.imgur.com/joxYrJP.jpg
A benefits cheat who claimed he was too sick to work was caught out after he was discovered to be working as an erotic stripper.
Mark Hetherington said he was too ill to get out of bed, however at nights he would take to the stage as ‘Ian Kognito’ the stripping ninja.
He also claimed that he needed assistance cooking for himself and cleaning his teeth and said leaving his house caused him to have panic attacks.
Hetherington, 51, hoped the mask he wore on stage would protect him against being found out, however investigators compiled multiple videos of him stripping in clubs, festivals and private parties all over the UK.
A court ruled that Hetherington broke the law by not informing the Department of Work and Pensions about the improvement to his medical condition, and was therefore overpaid £5,018 in Disability Living Allowance.
http://i.imgur.com/SyzCHzS.jpg
Hetherington learned his trade from his grandmother Kathy Rowan, who works under the name Kozmic Kitty.
The pair also live together.
Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said: ‘Hetherington said he was anxious all the time and especially in social circumstances and could not mix with others because of anxiety.
‘However the DWP started to investigate and discovered he was working as what is known as a burlesque dancer and also nude modelling for art classes.’
When confronted with the footage of him on stage Hetherington said dancing was a hobby and that he did not earn much money from it, however he could not explain his sudden ability to be outside and surrounded by people looking at him.
However John McLaren, defending, said Hetherington ‘accepts he should have told the DWP that his confidence had improved and he was getting better’.
Hetherington was given a one year community service order and will have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
He must also pay £125 in court costs.
Mr McLaren said his client was paying the money he received back ‘£10 a week’.
http://i.imgur.com/joxYrJP.jpg
A benefits cheat who claimed he was too sick to work was caught out after he was discovered to be working as an erotic stripper.
Mark Hetherington said he was too ill to get out of bed, however at nights he would take to the stage as ‘Ian Kognito’ the stripping ninja.
He also claimed that he needed assistance cooking for himself and cleaning his teeth and said leaving his house caused him to have panic attacks.
Hetherington, 51, hoped the mask he wore on stage would protect him against being found out, however investigators compiled multiple videos of him stripping in clubs, festivals and private parties all over the UK.
A court ruled that Hetherington broke the law by not informing the Department of Work and Pensions about the improvement to his medical condition, and was therefore overpaid £5,018 in Disability Living Allowance.
http://i.imgur.com/SyzCHzS.jpg
Hetherington learned his trade from his grandmother Kathy Rowan, who works under the name Kozmic Kitty.
The pair also live together.
Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said: ‘Hetherington said he was anxious all the time and especially in social circumstances and could not mix with others because of anxiety.
‘However the DWP started to investigate and discovered he was working as what is known as a burlesque dancer and also nude modelling for art classes.’
When confronted with the footage of him on stage Hetherington said dancing was a hobby and that he did not earn much money from it, however he could not explain his sudden ability to be outside and surrounded by people looking at him.
However John McLaren, defending, said Hetherington ‘accepts he should have told the DWP that his confidence had improved and he was getting better’.
Hetherington was given a one year community service order and will have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
He must also pay £125 in court costs.
Mr McLaren said his client was paying the money he received back ‘£10 a week’.