Operation Calvados

Brian Sutcliffe aged 74 of Thistlebottom, Charles-Town, Hebden Bridge was jailed in February 2008 for 3 years after pleading guilty at York Crown Court for false accounting, retaining a wrongful credit and making a false statement in relation to his fraudulent benefit claims amounting to approximately £145,000 which equates to £17,000 per year of public money through the offending period.

The investigators discovered that Sutcliffe used the benefit money to buy a timeshare apartment in Tenerife, go on holidays to France and make his remortgage payments.  In addition to this, it was identified that Sutcliffe had access to over £180,000 in a bank account and premium bonds.

The defence claimed that Sutcliffe had not used the payments to support a lavish lifestyle but to make his sick wife more comfortable.

HHJ Durham Hall stated when sentencing Suttcliffe “You set up a system where you deprived the state of huge amounts of money.  This is not the case of a desperate person trying to gain a few extra pounds, you were motivated by greed”

DCI Steve Waite from the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team stated “This is a prime example of what can be achieved through partnership working. Investigators in the multi-agency North East Regional Asset Recovery Team have engaged with the Department for Works and Pensions in this process, conducting a professional and thorough investigation into the financial lifestyle of Mr Sutcliffe.

It sends out a clear message that crime does not pay. In this case, the benefits fraudulently claimed from the Department for Works and Pensions and Calderdale Council amounted to approximately £145,000.00, but the Confiscation Order has been made for £188,144.59 plus £5,000.00 costs. This figure originates from the Court recognizing that the defendant benefited beyond the original criminal activity. Sutcliffe will have one year to pay, however if he defaults, he will have to serve a two year jail sentence and will be continuously pursued by the enforcement team for outstanding amounts.