Scammed £30,000 in two DWP benefits - and was caught out by wife's photo

A Guildford Crown Court heard that a 65‑year‑old Star Wars stuntman claimed £30,000 in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction while spending about £400,000 on a luxury lifestyle, yet he avoided jail. Gerry Sherard’s claims spanned 2016 to 2020, during which he asserted no savings or property ownership, though prosecutors said he owned a Burgundy holiday home and properties in Dubai. Investigators were alerted after social media posts showing opulent travel and occasions contradicted his claims. Judge Robert Fraser labeled the conduct as an ‘abhorrent’ abuse of welfare and noted falsified forms, though Sherard received a non‑custodial sentence.