A MAN who claimed he could barely walk but was filmed crown green bowling has been kept out of prison – as he faces a more serious health battle.

An investigation by the Department of Work and Pensions revealed that John Larder, from Huncoat, was also working as a part-time greenkeeper at the Burnley Road bowling club in Accrington.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Larder had insisted that a combination of arthritis and rheumatism had left him almost immobile, for a disability living allowance which ran from 2007 to August 2014.

But now the 63-year-old, of Burnley Road, has been diagnosed with lung cancer and Judge Beverley Lunt said this factor had prevented him from serving a custodial sentence. Judge Lunt said: “This fraud was blatant – you could be seen playing bowls, pushing the mower across the green and then emptying it afterwards.”

“You are still in receipt of benefits but it is clear that you are suffering serious ill health. For such a blatant fraud I would have sent you to prison, but you are now suffering from lung cancer. It would therefore not be in your, or society’s, interests if you went to prison.”

Prosecutor Mark Lamberty said observations had been made by DWP investigators on Larder at the bowling club on no fewer than 14 occasions in July and August 2014. Larder, who admitted failing to notify a change in circumstances for benefits, was given a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He still faces a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, over possible repayments from his offence. Robert Elias, defending, said it was apparent that his client did have an underlying condition to begin with, which had improved over time, but he had failed to notify the department.

“This case has brought the good name he has built up over the years crashing down around his ears,” said Mr Elias.

The defendant had been repaying money to the department following the discovery of the offence, said Mr Elias, who accepted that this was still being made new benefit payouts.