A MANDURAH man who fraudulently claimed close to $30,000 in Centrelink payments will be sentenced later this month.
David Roger Reckwell pleaded guilty in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday to two counts of obtaining a financial advantage in relation to social security overpayments.
The court heard Mr Reckwell, 31, was on a disability support pension during the charge period between March, 2011 and July, 2013.
He lodged forms claiming he was unable to work, having been born with spina bifida, and signed a legally binding document declaring he was not working in March 2011.
But data matching between Centrelink and the Australian Taxation Office found Mr Reckwell had been employed for more than two years by a local pub.
Mr Reckwell had been working 38 hours per week and had earnt $136,518.90 in undeclared income during that time.
Counsel for Mr Reckwell said his client was very remorseful and had been under a lot of financial stress at the time of the offending.
The prosecution has called for an immediate term of imprisonment and are seeking reparation of $29,944.82 plus $426.74 in court costs.
They referred to the offences as “significant” and said Mr Reckwell had aided and abetted his wife who is also facing a fraud charge over carer payments alleged to have been claimed by her.
Mrs Reckwell has pleaded not guilty to fraudulently claiming $29,944.57 while her husband was working.
She will stand trial at a later date.
Mr Reckwell will be sentenced on November 24.
