Canterbury Crown Court, where Kirkham's case was heard

by Paul Hooper

A wealthy retired teacher, who ripped off taxpayers by illegally claiming incapacity benefits, has been given a lesson... that crime doesn’t pay!

Cheating Bernard Kirkham, 67, pocketed £60,000 in hand-outs while running his own property business in Thanet.

Kirkham, of Elmwood Close, Broadstairs, had received a suspended sentence when he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court earlier this year.

Now, after an investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the former special needs teacher has been told he has to repay £38,889.47.

A judge was told that the pensioner – who rented out 24 properties in the Thanet area - has assets in excess of a quarter of a million pounds.

After an agreement by lawyers, Kirkham has agreed to pay the money within four months – or risk going to jail for 15 months in default.

Kirkham claimed the benefits from 1990 to 2000 after he quit his job at an Essex special school suffering from depression.

Prosecuting, Holly Tibbetts said: "The defendant was well aware he wasn't entitled to this money but he said the company didn't make a profit – only a loss. He said he'd been stupid and naive."

Kirkham, who had pleaded guilty to the fraud, was given a six-month suspended sentence for a year, and ordered to wear an electronic tag for six months.

His barrister Andrew Espley told the court: "He wasn't a mini Duke of Westminster or anything like that.

“To him the operation didn't constitute work. He didn't dissipate any money on high living as most of the properties were mortgaged."