'Disabled' labourer carried girders.

A LABOURER who claimed nearly pounds 4500 in disability benefit was filmed carrying girders around a building site.

Michael Campbell, 43, had said he could not walk without a crutch and claimed a Mobility car while working in Tranent, East Lothian.

But Department of Work and Pensions fraud investigators caught up with him after a tipoff by a member of the public. The DWP officer who led the inquiry and cannot be identified for operational reasons said: "In his claim, he said he couldn't walk without severe discomfort over a maximum distance of 20 yards in two minutes and that he always used an elbow crutch or a stick.

Improved "We filmed Mr Campbell working around the building site, walking over uneven surfaces and carrying heavy objects. When we presented him with the evidence, he admitted that his condition had improved."

Earlier this month, Campbell was convicted at Haddington Sheriff Court of benefit fraud.

He was ordered to carry out 100 hours' community service and repay the benefits he had wrongly claimed.

Yesterday, Campbell, of Prestonpans, East Lothian, put his actions down to "stupidity".

He even claimed he was poorly advised by his disability officer.

Campbell said: "I didn't set out to intentionally defraud anyone. I had a knee replacement and I would have preferred to stay off work."

CAPTION(S):

FRAUD: Campbell