A SUPERMARKET boss defrauded an insurance company out of up to £34,000 by claiming he was unable to work.

Richard Moore, who was a manager at Morrisons in Nelson, and also found work at various other stores across the region, was yesterday handed a suspended jail sentence.

Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard how Moore, who suffers from mental health difficulties, legitimately submitted a claim to Aviva after losing a job at Marks and Spencer in 2013.

Lancashire Telegraph:

But when he found new work as manager at Aldi in Bury in November 2014 and then at Morrisons in Nelson, he continued to tell Aviva he was too unwell to work due to anxiety and depression.

He then went on to work as a pub landlord at the Victoria Hotel in Walshaw.

The payments were due to last until 2050 and, if he had not been caught, could have gained £413,000.

Lancashire Telegraph:

But insurance investigators became suspicious when they saw articles in the Telegraph’s sister paper – The Bury Times – about Moore and the success he was having at his pub.

Julian Goode, prosecuting, said: “Surveillance was conducted. That surveillance showed this defendant working behind the bar at the Victoria Hotel. He was seen tending to customers, dealing with the general public, taking food orders, carrying food to the tables and setting up tables.”

The court heard that, when contacted by Aviva, he offered to pay back the money and, when he was charged with fraud by making false representation, 33-year-old Moore, of Walshaw Road, Bury, pleaded guilty.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mukhtar Hussain QC, defending, said Moore was of previous good character.

The court was told that Moore employs 25 people and “makes a positive contribution to the community”.

Judge Angela Leeming sentenced Moore to 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Lancashire Telegraph: