Mexborough & Swinton Times, August 28, 1936
False Declaration
Denaby Man Pleads Ignorance
Robert West, Junior. Denaby, was sent to prison for three months when he was summoned at Doncaster on Thursday for making a false representation to obtain employment benefits.
Mr W. L. Crawford, prosecuting, said that West first made application for assistance in February, 1925, when he signed the usual form in which he made the declaration of his sources of income, but did not say anything about the fact that he was receiving 9s. 6d. Per week from selling newspapers.
This continued up to April 28 of this year. In consequence an anonymous communication he was interrogated on May 27th, and he was told that it had been asserted that he had been selling newspapers, and had received 9s. 6d. Per week for 15 months.
He then said, “I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. I only follow this occupation to enable me to buy a few clothes, cigarettes, etc.” Mr Crawford added that the total involved was £14 7s. 6d.
In sentencing him to 3 months imprisonment, Mr M. L. Nokes, chairman of the bench, said that if everyone unemployed did this, the country would soon be bankrupt.