Mark Lloyd, a benefit cheat who not a long time ago won a triathlon and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro while claiming he was unable to walk more than 50 meters is now in jail!
After triathlete’s claims, and a supposedly slipped disc in his back that had kept him in agony, he was able to receive a £6,551.80 in personal Independence Payments. During the same time, he became part of the World Triathlon Powerboat Championships.
Soon after these episodes took place a month ago, he was convicted of fraud. Yesterday he finally got his sentence. Mark Lloyd claimed the money between October 2014 and February 2016 but there were new evidences that came in light indicating his participation in the HSBC triathlon in back in September 2015 where he had won the taster category.
It was the same month he was part of a five-day commitment to climb the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This means, Lloyd must have walked at least 10 hours a day in order of be part of the climbing team.
His list of participated events includes also his participation in the World Powerboat Championships in Malta. While all these were happening, Lloyd was claiming he needed immediate help to use the lavatory and that he was unable to stand in the kitchen to prepare a meal.
Martin Brown, a district Judge claimed that Lloyd, a former paratrooper, had “exaggerated grossly” his condition. On the other hand, was being active and taking part in “a number of grueling events”.
He also called Lloyd’s claims as “fanciful” and without a single base to claim the benefit.
“You were in abuse of your position having served well in the Parachute Regiment. What you did attracted attention and you got plaudits.”- he added.
Medically discharged
In 2011, Lloyd was medically discharged from the Army after he suffered a lower back injury while serving in Afghanistan. It was only in 2014 when he first decided to apply for the Personal Independence Payment which goes up to £141 a week. This payment goes to the people who are suffering long-term health issues. They aim to help the receiver cover his main health care costs.
In 2015, he applied to get more money. He claimed his back condition had become worse than before and that he could barely walk more than 50 meters.
Now, the defense solicitor James Harris, had come up with the conclusion that Lloyd suffers from a post-traumatic stress disorder. It might have come as a direct result of his service. After the judge’s conclusion that he had “blatantly lied throughout”, he sentenced Lloyd to 20 weeks in prison.
