A benefits claimant who said he was too sick to work is under investigation after he was caught sailing his private yacht across the Atlantic Ocean.
Graham Axford from Croydon, received incapacity benefit for 15 years after injuring his back in a motorcycle accident in 1996.
But an investigation by the BBC’s Panorama which aired last night, revealed the injury caused no problems for the 57-year-old, as he tackled dangerous waters sailing 43ft Crumpet Too from America to the Azores.
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According to programme makers the former Liberal Democrat council candidate is a keen sailor who has embarked on several journeys since first making his benefit claim.
Accompanied by one crew members, he sailed via the West Indies, before combating big Atlantic swells to make the month long crossing in 2003. It is believed he then sailed from the Azores to France.
Mr Axford was given a council flat in 1997, after he failed to tell authorities he half-owned a farmhouse in Normandy.
He then held on to his council property while living in France and the US, where he admits to being based for the last seven years.
During this time he continued to receive payments of incapacity benefit, housing benefit and council tax benefit. His claims are now being investigated by Croydon Council.
Fraud investigator Andrea Corderey said: “He’s got a property in France and also we discovered that he owns a yacht.
“He is in receipt of incapacity benefit based on a bad back. We are not quite convinced what he’s told us about his disability is true.”
Mr Axford’s solicitor said he had never fraudulently misrepresented the nature or extent of his back injury.
He added his eligibility for incapacity benefit had been assessed and verified by medical professionals and that having an ongoing back condition was not incompatible with travelling in a boat with assistance.
