Eco-warrior benefits cheat who claimed he was ‘too afraid to leave the house’ filmed climbing lorries at fracking demo
AN eco-warrior who claimed he was "too scared to leave his house" was found guilty of benefit fraud after he was filmed climbing a lorry at fracking protest.
John Knox, 33, pocketed £9,000 in disability benefits while saying he suffered "physical and mental ailments" that also meant he needed help getting washed and dressed.
He was rumbled after footage emerged of him clambering up a giant rig - where he stayed for more than 26 hours.
The video also showed police officers scuffling with protesters attempting to enter a Cuadrilla fracking site in Little Plumpton, Lancs, in June 2017.
Knox, of Liverpool, was seen standing on top of a lorry with his arms outstretched towards the demonstrators as a construction worker tried to coax him down.
Officers were forced to close the A538 because of the protest, and can be seen forming a line to stop other demonstrators from entering the site.
Knox managed to remain on top of the lorry from 8am until 10.30am the following day.
He was charged with wilfully obstructing the highway - and also with failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in his circumstances.
He admitted the first charge and received a fine, but pleaded not guilty to the benefit fraud.
His trial at Preston Crown Court heard he had been claiming Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance at the time.
In total, he was found to have pocketed £9,000 to which he was not entitled.
He told the court he suffered from "physical and mental ailments" that left him afraid to leave his home, the reported.
He also claimed to need help getting showered and dressed each morning.
Knox was found guilty and will be sentenced in March.
The Department for Work and Pensions said: "We have zero tolerance of anyone fraudulently claiming benefits and will take swift action to investigate, supporting our partners and prosecutors to bring them to justice."
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