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Eiffel liar

Benefits cheat dad-of-five dodges jail despite enjoying string of holidays after pocketing £15k with claims he was too anxious to work

Shameless Stephen Astbury was busted when investigators uncovered Facebook photos of him scuba diving and skiing on his globe-trotting exploits

A SHAMELESS benefits cheat, who pocketed over £15,000 by claiming he was too anxious to work was busted by investigators who found photos of him enjoying a string of holidays on Facebook.

Stephen Astbury was seen scuba diving, skiing and posing happily in front of The Eiffel Tower - while insisting his split personality disorder prevented him from getting a job.

 Stephen Astbury pocketed over £15,000 in benefits claiming he was too anxious to work
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Stephen Astbury pocketed over £15,000 in benefits claiming he was too anxious to workCredit: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd
 Astbury was spared jail after admitting fraudulently claiming benefits over a two-year period
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Astbury was spared jail after admitting fraudulently claiming benefits over a two-year periodCredit: Cavendish Press

The 32-year-old father of five was unmasked as a cheat after officials from the Department of Work and Pensions examined his social media account - where they also discovered he was involved in the construction and scrap metal trades.

Further pictures showed him smiling behind the wheel of a string of vehicles including a quad bike, scrambling bikes and a JCB digger.

 Astbury was seen skiing in one snap while insisting his split personality disorder prevented him from getting a job
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Astbury was seen skiing in one snap while insisting his split personality disorder prevented him from getting a jobCredit: FACEBOOK

At Blackburn magistrates court Astbury, of Great Harwood, Lancs admitted fraudulently claiming Employment Support Allowance and Housing Benefit between March 2013 and September 2015.

Yet he escaped jail after telling JPs he had narrowly survived a road smash last month in which his lawyer claimed there was a ''90 per cent” chance' he could have lost his life.

 The 32-year-old father of five was unmasked as a cheat after officials from the Department of Work and Pensions examined his social media account
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The 32-year-old father of five was unmasked as a cheat after officials from the Department of Work and Pensions examined his social media accountCredit: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd
Motorbike
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One snap posted to his Facebook account saw the benefits cheat riding a dirt bikeCredit: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd

Earlier prosecutor Miss Enza Geldard said: "The defendant begun collecting ESA in June 2010 on the basis that he was too ill to work and applied for housing benefit alongside this.

"He provided evidence that he was unfit to work due to a split personality disorder as well as anxiety and depression.

Jet ski
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In another photo, Astbury posed with his thumb up on board a jet skiCredit: FACEBOOK
Beach
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Another holiday photo showed Astbury larking around on a beachCredit: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd

"He was informed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions if his situation was to change.

"However in July 2014 evidence from his Facebook page showed that he was conduction scrap metal work. Evidence also showed that he was insured on a number of vehicles.”

A probation officer told the court: "The defendant accepts these charges but claims he was not aware he had to inform the DWP as he we was earning less than £100 a week.”

Parrots
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In another the father-of-five posed with two parrotsCredit: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd
 Investigators busted Astbury after coming across photos that showed him working in the construction trade
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Investigators busted Astbury after coming across photos that showed him working in the construction tradeCredit: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd

Astbury was given a 32-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

Sentencing, JP Irene Devine said: "You are trying to do everything you can to get your life back on track so we are going to try and deal with this in a sympathetic way but punish you at the same time.

"We hope this will prevent you from defrauding the department of work and pensions and the people again.”

 Astbury avoided jail after the court heard he was recently involved in a near-fatal motorway accident
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Astbury avoided jail after the court heard he was recently involved in a near-fatal motorway accidentCredit: FACEBOOK
 Astbury was given a 32-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge
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Astbury was given a 32-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay a £115 victim surchargeCredit: FACEBOOK
 Astbury argued that because he was earning less than £100 a week he didn't have to inform the DWP
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Astbury argued that because he was earning less than £100 a week he didn't have to inform the DWPCredit: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd


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